Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani has called for a new legislation which would ensure annual declaration of support prices for farm products.
Inaugurating a rail roko agitation here on Friday, Mr. Mani said the minimum support price of agriculture produces should be fixed at 50 per cent above the cost of production.
“Such a measure is inevitable for the revival of farming community which was passing through unprecedented crisis on account of environmental vagaries and low price of produces,” Mr. Mani said.
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Series of agitations
The protest was organised as part of the series of agitations planned by the party demanding declaration of minimum support price for various farm produces, write off of farm loans, and review of the various international trade agreements to remove the anti-farmer provisions.
Mr. Mani pointed out that the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular had promised to declare minimum support price for farm produces during the run-up to the last Parliament elections.
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However, even after three years in power there has been no move in that direction, he said.
“This is a breach of trust and would lead to the total collapse of the agriculture sector in the country,” Mr. Mani said.
The Central government, which enacted legislation so swiftly on the beef issue, has failed to come to the aid of the farmer so far, he added.
Working chairman P.J. Joseph, deputy chairman C.F. Thomas, vice chairman Jose K. Mani, MP, general secretary Joy Abraham, MP, and others spoke on the occasion.
The party activists waylaid the Hyderabad-bound Sabari Express from Thiruvananthapuram following which the train was halted at Kottayam for nearly 20 minutes.