Support price for maize seed demanded

Jeelugumilli: Farmers cultivating maize seed have demanded Rs 2,500 support price per quintal to save them from making losses.

The farmers elaborated their tale of woes to a team of AP Rythu Sangham which visited maize seed fields in Darbhagudem and Lakshmipuram villages on Monday.

The team led by AP Rythu Sangham upland district secretary K Srinivas inspected the crop and interacted with the farmers to know their problems.

Speaking on the occasion, Srinivas said that farmers were not getting returns in the cultivation of maize seed. Their investment per acre crossed Rs 55,000 including lease amount.

The farmers have to spend more on pesticides because of pest attacking the crop this season.

The price of Rs 1,900 per quintal announced by the companies was not reasonable considering the problems faced by the farmers in cultivating the crop.

In spite of huge spending, the farmers were not getting yield more than 25 quintals per acre, he added.

Srinivas alleged that the farmers in many areas incurred losses because of faulty foundation seed supplied by the companies.

Considering all these factors, the government should announce support price for the farmers, he demanded.