Jowar farmers in erstwhile Nizamabad up in arms over lack of remunerative price

Farmers in Nizamabad district are protesting low prices for fodder jowar, alleging trader syndicates are forcing down rates. MLAs raised the issue in the Assembly, demanding government intervention and a bonus to ensure remunerative prices.

Hyderabad: Farmers in Balkonda, Armoor and Nizamabad Rural constituencies are up in arms against the Congress government over the lack of remunerative price for their produce.

Fodder jowar is extensively cultivated in these three constituencies in erstwhile Nizamabad. It is a specialised seed variety grown to ensure fodder for cattle. The seed is in high demand in Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and other north Indian States, and is also exported to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries.

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Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy raised the hardships faced by farmers during Zero Hour in the Assembly on Wednesday. Last year, fodder jowar was cultivated in 33,000 acres in Balkonda constituency alone, and traders purchased the stocks at Rs.3,800 per quintal. This year, the cultivation area declined to 22,000 acres, he said. Considering the reduced cultivation area, farmers expected a price of about Rs.4,000 per quintal. However, after trading commenced at Rs.3,850 per quintal, traders allegedly formed a syndicate and are now purchasing the stocks at Rs.3,000 per quintal.

“In a span of 15 days, the price was reduced by Rs.500 per quintal. Generally, farmers produce 20 quintals per acre and at this rate, the farmers were suffering Rs.10,000 per acre losses,” Prashanth Reddy said.

He alleged that such practices by traders occur every year. When the issue was raised with the District Collector and senior officials in the past, strict warnings were issued and traders mended their ways. This year too, the matter was brought to the notice of the Nizamabad Collector, he added.

“The State government should intervene and break the traders syndicate. This will aid in remunerative prices for the farmers,” Prashanth Reddy said.

Armoor MLA P Rakesh Reddy also raised the issue of fodder jowar farmers in the House, alleging that middlemen and traders were exploiting them. He demanded that the State government announce a Rs.500 bonus per quintal for fodder jowar to bail farmers out of the crisis.

He also urged the government to promote the crop, stating that paddy cultivation requires more water and yields about 35 to 40 bags per acre, whereas fodder jowar can be cultivated with less water and harvested within a short period.

Large-scale protests were staged by farmers in the past against illegal practices by traders and middlemen. During the tenure of former Chief Minister YS Rajashekhara Reddy, police had to resort to firing to control farmers’ agitations. If the current Congress government does not want such incidents to recur, it should offer a bonus to farmers and procure the stocks, he added.