The harvesting operations in rabi began on a sour note for the paddy growers in West Godavari district. Even as 30-40 per cent of the crop has been harvested so for, the produce, piling up in the fields, seems eagerly waiting for buyers. The paddy was raised in only half the delta area of 5.29 lakh acres in the district in the rabi while crop holiday was enforced in the remaining area due to non-availability of water in the Godavari river. The farmers are expressing satisfaction over the yield being reported at 35-40 bags per acre. Given the preliminary indications, around 8 lakh tons of paddy has been expected to be produced in the season in the district regardless of the adverse conditions.
However, the glut in the paddy market continues to stalk the growers in spite of the downsizing of the paddy area. According to information, old stocks to the extent of four lakh tons pertaining to the last khariff remained with the farmers either in the households or in the fields. The hapless growers feel the pinch of poor market intervention by the government agencies and the glut in the market.
The peasant leaders, who spoke at a roundtable meet at Bhimavaram on Saturday, raised a hue and cry over the raw deal meted out to the growers in procurement of the produce. Mantenta Venkata Suryanarayana Raju of the Delta Parirakshana Samithi said the presence of the Indira Kranti Padham (IKP) centres was hardly felt resulting in underpricing of the produce much lower than the minim support price by traders. The produce harvested with harvesters is reportedly priced at Rs 650-700 per 75kg bag as against the MSP of Rs 832. The presence of moisture beyond the stipulated levels is said to be cited as the reason for the poor rates.
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Although the district administration has claimed to have opened 50 IKP-run paddy purchase centres for procurement during the season, most of them are yet to commence the process.
The Joint Action Committee with representatives from different peasant organizations was constituted at the round table with Mr. Suryanarayana Raju as convener to agitate for a better deal to the farmers.