Groundnut farmers hold protest

Hundreds of farmers protested the postponement of groundnut seed supply at the Anantapur market yard and all seed distribution centres in mandals across the district on Wednesday.

Farmers began queuing up at market yards and seed distribution centres including the Anantapur market yard from 6 a.m. to buy government-supplied groundnut seed. They were shocked to be told that the seed distribution date had been postponed to June 14th.

“I have come all the way from Garladinne. I reached here [the Anantapur market yard] by 5.30 a.m. to be at the head of the queue. I waited till 10 a.m. and then learnt that the date has been postponed. At least, information about postponement should have been told to us in the morning, if not yesterday,” Hussain Peera, a farmer, told

The Hindu at Anantapur. He said he would buy seeds in private markets, as rain had already set in.

Another farmer, Gangulappa of Maruru village in Raptadu mandal, complained that the government had completely failed to ensure prompt supply of groundnut seed ahead of the rain. “How can I be sure that they [government] will supply seed after four days? What if it doesn’t rain after that day?” he asked.

Protesting farmers also blockaded the Kadiri-Hindupur road and picketed the MRO’s office in Obuladevara Cheruvu mandal headquarters. There were similar protests in several other mandals across the district.

With pre-monsoon rains having already set in, farmers hoped that prompt seed supply would enable to sow early.