Tension prevails as police stop cotton farmers from meeting Telangana Seed Commission chief
Tension erupted in Gadwal's Putanpalli as cotton farmers were stopped by police from meeting Agriculture Commission Chairman Kodanda Reddy. The farmers protested seed failure and lack of compensation. Reddy later assured them of action and a forthcoming Seed Law
Jogulamba-Gadwal: Tension prevailed at Putanpalli village here on Friday after cotton farmers were prevented by the police from meeting State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission Chairman M Kodanda Reddy.
A few cotton farmers wanted to meet the Commission Chairman and express their grievances, especially to complain about the hardship they were facing in cotton seed cultivation. The seed companies or organizers were refusing to pay compensation to farmers’. The police prevented the farmers and arrested them midway, BRS local K Vijay Kumar said. He too was picked up by the police.
The failure of the foundation seeds given to farmers by seed companies through organizers was rampant in Dharoor, Maldakal, Gattu and KT Doddi mandals. Initially, the Commission members were to visit these mandals, but local Congress leaders shifted the programme to Putanpalli, he charged in a statement.
However, the Commission Chairman met the farmers at Putanpalli and assured to address their grievances.
Later, addressing at the District Collector’s office, Kodanda Reddy said the district administration had failed to curb the spurious cotton seeds issue. There was lack of coordination among committees in effectively handling the issue, he said, according to reports.
“A new Seed Law is being introduced shortly. It will ensure control over seed companies and protect farmers’ rights,” Kodanda Reddy assured.
