Closure of red gram purchase centre sparks protest

Podili: Farmers staged ‘rasta roko’ here on Tuesday, demanding that the government immediately start purchasing the red gram through MARKFED and offer minimum support price as promised by it. They blocked Kurnool - Ongole highway as the traders offered them a meager Rs 650 per quintal of red gram.

The agitating farmers alleged that the MARKFED officials were cooperating with the traders and closed down the red gram purchase center opened at Podili two weeks ago. Even though they were bringing the produce, the farmers alleged that the agriculture and marketing department officials were not cooperating with the farmers. 

As the farmers protesting on the road blocking traffic on highway, the SI Nagaraju, agriculture officer Devireddi Srinivasulu Reddy and Tahsildar Vidyasagarudu tried to pacify the farmers.

They spoke to the MARKFED officials over phone and informed the farmers that they stopped purchasing in all centers including Podili. The officials promised that they would reopen the purchasing centers immediately after they receive orders from the government.