Farmers facing troubles to sell crops: Jeevan Reddy

BRS leader T Jeevan Reddy criticised the Telangana government over delays in maize procurement and alleged that farmers were facing severe hardships in selling their produce. He also accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil election promises and criticised rising fuel prices

Jagtial: BRS general secretary T Jeevan Reddy said that never before had farmers faced such severe hardships in selling their produce. “Was Praja Pala meant to deny procurement of crops produced by farmers and keep officials away from the public and farmers?” Jeevan Reddy questioned while participating in a dharna staged by farmers demanding procurement of maize at the Raikal MRO office on Monday.

If the government was to take responsibility, it should procure every crop, whether paddy or maize. Recalling the procurement process during the BRS regime, he said it was former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao who purchased every grain produced by farmers by providing the minimum support price. However, now farmers have to protest on roads to sell their produce. Instead of paddy, farmers in north Telangana were producing maize and pulses during the Rabi season by following the instructions of agricultural officials.

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Though 40 quintals of maize had been produced on an acre of land, the government had imposed a condition to purchase only 25 quintals. To sell the remaining crop, farmers have to approach middlemen, who are quoting lower prices. The Congress government failed to implement its election promises. It had promised to provide Rs 6,000 under Rythu Bharosa to farmers, but in vain. Referring to fuel prices, the BRS leader said petrol and diesel prices were high in Congress-ruled States. The VAT on fuel stood at 35 per cent and 27 per cent on petrol and diesel respectively in Telangana. In north India, only 19 per cent VAT had been imposed on petrol and diesel. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy should be ashamed of it, he said.

It was ridiculous on the part of Congress leaders to stage dharnas in protest against the hike in fuel prices. Besides the BJP, the Congress should also take responsibility for the hike in petrol and diesel prices. While the Congress was staging dharnas against the hike in petrol and diesel prices, BJP leaders were staging protests demanding procurement of paddy and maize. Both parties were cheating the public, he alleged.