Nizamabad: Farmers stage dharna for better prices

Nizamabad: Violating prohibitory orders, hundreds of farmers staged a Mahadharna on National Highway 63 at Mamidipally Crossroads in Armoor on Tuesday.

Farmers from Armoor division took part in the agitation demanding a remunerative price for turmeric and red jowar. As part of the series of agitation programmes, farmers in large numbers reached Armoor and raised slogans against the state government.

Farmers have been demanding Rs 15,000 and Rs 3,500 per quintal for turmeric and red jowar respectively as remunerative price. Existing prices offered by traders are not profitable for both the commercial crops.

Farmers displayed banners and placards showcasing their demands. They also demanded that a Turmeric Board be set up in Nizamabad district to protect the interests of turmeric farmers.

In view of the farmers’ stir, police clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Armoor division. Additional police forces were deployed in and around Armoor town to prevent any untoward incident during the protest.

Farmers continued the protest for around 4 hours, but no officials came to assure them on remunerative price for turmeric and red jowar.

Leaders of the agitation committee have now decided to conduct another phase of agitation from February 16 onwards. They said that market intervention by the state government may change the fate of farmers. Traders would offer better price if the government agencies pressed into service to purchase the turmeric and jowar, they opined.

On the other hand, district administration is planning to initiate action on seed companies in Armoor and to purchase the red jowar.

Seed companies had already come to an agreement with farmers over the sale and purchase of red jowar. But ignoring the agreement, a few seed company owners have been backing the farmers to pressurise the state government over prices, the officials said.