Hyderabad: Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind who defeated TRS chief’s daughter K. Kavitha in the Lok Sabha raising the turmeric farmer’s issue is now being reminded by the turmeric farmers of Telangana about his promise of setting up a National Turmeric Board and fixing a minimum support price (MSP) for turmeric.
Farmers are gearing up to once again raise their voices about the false promises made by political parties who play vote politics. The average investment of cost for turmeric cultivation is approximately 1.5 lakh. The curcumin compound is used for the processed turmeric which gives colour and the flavour and curcumin percentage decides the market value of the product.
No availability of cold storage is also a big problem for the farmers. Farmers are claiming that D. Arvind had given a `100 bond stamp paper stating that he would resign from membership of Lok Sabha if he fails to set up the Turmeric Board and get a MSP for turmeric and red jowar. He had also assured farmers that he would participate in the farmers’ agitation to achieve the National Turmeric Board from the Centre.
The Telangana Turmeric Farmers’ Association President K. Narsimha Naidu said: “BJP in the last five-year government did not think about the tough situation of turmeric farmers and even now, after new 100 days of being in power again, is not at all bothered to meet our demand of setting up a National Turmeric Board and fix the MSP for turmeric. BJP MP Arvind lied to the farmers and influenced them to get their votes.”
Mr Naidu said that MP Arvind is incapable of getting the turmeric farmers’ demands fulfilled by the central government.
A farmer Thirupati with a field near Jakarnpally, Nizamabad said “Union budget and 100 days passed but no news of the Turmeric Board by the BJP MP. He had distributed bond papers to us but his promise is still to be fulfilled.”
BJP MP D. Arvind was not available to talk to this newspaper about his promise.
