Farmers stage protest demanding MSP for groundnut

Nagarkurnool: The groundnut farmers have set out on a protest in Achampet mandal in the district demanding minimum support price for their produce.  Large number of farmers came on to the roads and blocked the traffic and demanded the government to immediately announce MSP of Rs 6,000 per quintal for groundnut. At present, the government is giving a minimum support price of Rs 4,500 per quintal. 

However, the farmers are demanding Rs 6,000.  “Last year, we sold our produce for more than 5,300 per quintal and this year they have reduced the prices to Rs 4,500, this is grave injustice to the farming community. They have increased the prices of seeds, fertilizers and farm equipments, but they are not willing to provide MSP to the farmers. 

This is nothing but exploitation by the State,” said Narasimha Nayak of Kollapur mandal.  The farmers took out a rally from the market yard to Ambadkar chowk in Achampet and stranded the traffic for over one hour. They demanded that the State government should immediately rescue groundnut farmers and announce the desired MSP. 

Learning about the farmers’ protest, local MLA Guvvala Balaraj reached the market yard and pacified the agitating farmers and assured them that he would try to help their demands met.