More bonus sought for paddy

Nellore: Demanding additional bonus of Rs 300 per quintal to the paddy in the district, the BJP leaders staged a protest in front of the Gandhi Statue here on Monday. They demanded for reasonable MSP and a bonus of Rs 300 per quintal.

Even though, farming expenditure has been increased, Nellore BPT variety had lost Rs 3,000 per Putti when compared to last year making them vexed on the cultivation activity.

BJP state general secretary Suresh Reddy, who organised the protest, said the state government has to bear transport costs for shifting the crop to the Paddy Purchasing Centre, the amount has to be paid within two days, and paddy has to be procured irrespective of moisture content.

He also said purchasers from other districts or states have to be encouraged for more competition and profitability to the farmers. He said Nellore BPT variety has become costlier with expenditure of Rs 40,000 per acre on an average and the farmers were not getting reasonable price even meeting the investment. BJP state EC member M Ramesh, local leaders G Venkateswarlu, Vijayalakshmi and others were present.