Farmers Block State Highway with Paddy, Accuse Rice-Millers of Fraud

Nalgonda: Farmers staged a road blockade by parking their paddy-loaded tractors on the Narketpally-Adhanki State Highway at Shettipalem in Vemulapally mandal on Sunday, protesting against rice millers allegedly forming a syndicate and failing to provide the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their paddy.

The farmers blocked the highway in front of a rice mill in Shettipalem, causing a 1-km long traffic jam. They alleged that millers were offering only Rs 2,100 to Rs 2,200 per quintal for fine rice varieties instead of the MSP of Rs 2,320 per quintal.

Farmers said that about 30 tractors were queued at each rice mill in the area, awaiting the sale of paddy. They called on officials to intervene and ensure MSP for their crop.

Local officials attempted to persuade the farmers to withdraw their protest. Upon hearing about the situation, Miryalaguda MLA K. Laxma Reddy arrived at the scene and assured the farmers that millers would be instructed to pay the MSP. He also warned the millers to comply with MSP standards or face action. Following this assurance, the farmers ended their protest.