Dairy farmers in Telangana have demanded 9 per cent interest subsidy on farm loans availed by them, and free power to the sector, here on Saturday. Progressive dairy farmers association also demanded government to release free power to dairy farms.
Bigger role sought
for Vijaya Dairy
At a media conference by the Progressive Dairy Farmers Association, its office bearers asked the government-run Vijaya Dairy to procure milk in a bigger way from Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts and supply it in Hyderabad.
“There is a huge gap in the requirement and supply of milk by Vijaya Dairy in Hyderabad. The city needs about 25 lakh litres daily but the dairy supplies hardly 5 lakh litres,” said Kandala Bal Reddy, general secretary of the association.
The association also asked the State to develop milk collection units in the four districts.
“The facilities will aid dairy farmers and it will cost the government less than Rs. 60 crore,” Mr. Reddy said. The association also asked government to announce a bonus of Rs. 200 on procurement of paddy and Rs. 500 on cotton.
‘Act fast’
It urged the government not to waste time on research into suicide by farmers in the State. The government already has reports, including that of the Swaminathan Commission, and they have many insights into the farming situation in the country, the association said. “No more research is required and the delay will only complicate the burning issues,” Mr. Reddy said.
The association maintained that farmer suicides increased this year as the government increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy by a mere 3.6 per cent over the previous rate. In contrast, the government had increased the Dearness Allowance of government servants by 13 per cent.
Since Telangana falls under rain shadow region geographically, diversion of river waters is the only solution for the farming crisis, the association stressed.
