Unleashing an attack on both Union and State governments for their “deliberate ignorance” of the farm crisis caused by a drastic dip of prices of most of the agricultural produce, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) charged that the Agriculture Price Commission (APC), constituted by the State government, wanted to keep farmers under illusion.
Addressing a media conference at Reporters' Guild here on Saturday, State president of the organisation, Chamarasa Malipatil, alleged that neither the APC nor the cabinet subcommittee, both formed for scientifically pricing agricultural produce in the State, had done anything despite farmers being hit hard by the price crash.
“Constituting APC was an eyewash. It was set up to make farmers believe that the government was doing something to address their crisis. In reality, it has done nothing to save the farmers who are suffering from price crash,” he said.
Although 40 per cent of cotton has been sold by farmers at a low price of Rs. 3,500 a quintal, the government has not yet announced Minimum Support Price (MSP) nor established procurement centres to purchase the crop, he added.
"The same is the case with other agricultural produce. The government has said it would soon establish maize procurement centres in APMCs across the State, but not a single centre has opened so far. As for other crops, the government has not even assured it will announce MSP,” he alleged.
"Our Prime Minister has been roaming the world visiting developed countries, one after other, and making all-out efforts to attract foreign capital for India's industrial sector. But he shows no interest in safeguarding the interests of farmers who are being pushed to end their lives,” he said.
Agitation
The farmers’ leader announced that his organisation would mobilise farmers from all five taluks of Raichur and block the State Highway at Sindhanur on Thursday, demanding scientific MSP for agricultural crops and establishment of procurement centres.
