Oil palm farmers want MSP

Eluru: The oil palm farmers started relay hunger strike at Godrej oil factory at Chintampalli in Chintalapudi mandal, demanding that the government help them get minimum support price to the oil palm.

The farmers led by Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham reached the factory and started their hunger strike. The CPM and Congress leaders extended their solidarity to the hunger strike.  

Oil palm farmers Mahankali Jagadeesh, Gayam Pawan, Yalamati Harinath, Andra Venkateswara Rao, Chanda Purnachandra Rao participated in the hunger strike on Wednesday.

The Oil Palm Farmers Association leaders, Penmetsa Ramaraju, Andhra Pradesh Koulu Rythu Sangham (APKRS) vice-president K Srinivas, Oil Palm Farmers Association leaders Rudraraju Padmaraju, Khadarbabu Reddy, Dannapaneni Shyamsunder, P Mutta Reddy addressed the hunger strike camp at the factory. They demanded that the factory management pay the transport charges separately and credit the amount online in the farmers’ accounts. They wanted the government to implement insurance scheme to oil palm workers. 
  
The Congress leaders, Marumudi Thomas, Mutya Jivi, CPM leader R V S Narayana visited the hunger strike camp at the factory and expressed their solidarity to the agitation.