Unable to get minimum support price, angry farmers in Telangana burn chillies
WARANGAL/KHAMMAM: Chilli farmers, who have been under stress for the last few months for not able to get minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, lost their patience on Thursday and burnt chillies in front of Enumamula, Kothagudem and Khammam chilli market yards.
However, the police who got the wind of the plan reached the spot and swiftly put off the fire.
Trouble began when farmers in large numbers gathered with 70,000 bags of chillies on Thursday morning. They were told by the market officials that the latter cannot accept their chillies as there was sufficient stock already in cold storage.
When the farmers told the officials that they have spent a lot of money on transportation and cannot take the load back, the officials responded negatively.
Annoyed by the response of the officials, a few farmers threw their bags in front of the market yard gate and burnt it as a symbol of protest. The police who reached the market yard pushed the farmers behind and put off the fire.
Later, police officials spoke to the market yard authorities and asked them to purchase chillies.
Meanwhile, the market yard officials assured the farmers that within two days all their chillies will be procured. After getting assurance from the officials, the farmers called off their protest.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Khammam chilli market, where the farmers burnt chilli bags for government’s failure to provide MSP.
Traders reduce chilli price
The traders decided the price of the commodity (jenda pata) at Rs 6,200 per quintal and started purchasing chillies between Rs 4,800 and Rs 5,400 per quintal which is the least price in the recent past.
Irked farmers launched a protest, descended market committee office and raised slogans against the officials and government. Soon, CPI (ML) new democracy party leaders Potu Ranga Rao and others reached the market yard and joined the protest with farmers.
Ranga Rao said that the state government advised and encouraged farmers to cultivate chilli and red gram instead of cotton this year and now they are not paying remunerative prices.
Farmers cultivated chilli in 30,000 hectares in both districts Khammam and Bhadradrikothagudem.
Initially, they were offered Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,000 per quintal in the market but gradually traders started decreasing prices and brought it down between Rs 4,800 to Rs 5,400 per quintal.
‘Cost of seeds has gone up’
The farmers claim that since the inputs especially the seeds and the fertilisers rates have gone up, the cost has increased drastically and if they do not get Rs 10,000 per quintal, then they would suffer heavy losses.