Mahabubnagar: Farmers protest groundnut price crash, squat on rail tracks in protest

Police intervened to pacify the protesters, but the farmers remained defiant and raised slogans denouncing the government's failure to safeguard their interests

Mahabubnagar: Farmers in Mahbubnagar staged a massive protest at the market yard demanding a fair price for groundnut on Tuesday. The situation quickly escalated with the farmers squatting on railway tracks at the nearby Boyapally Gate, halting train services. Police intervened to pacify the protesters, but the farmers remained defiant and raised slogans denouncing the government’s failure to safeguard their interests.

Hundreds of quintals of groundnut were arriving at the Mahbubnagar market yard daily. However, the traders’ reluctance to purchase at fair prices caused an abrupt drop in prices, leading to the farmers’ agitation. With the procurement halted, the farmers took to protest, seeking the attention of the Marketing Department.

Accusations were directed at the market yard officials and the chairman for conspiring with buyers to deny fair prices to the farmers. Farmers alleged that officials were allegedly underreporting the quantity of produce arriving daily to manipulate prices.

It is claimed that 30,000 to 50,000 quintals were arriving daily, but only 20,000 to 25,000 are officially recorded. There are also allegations of secret commissions being collected from importers without the knowledge of the market yard’s governing board.