Minimum Support Price for turmeric: Farmers of Nizamabad set August 15 deadline

Nizamabad: After waiting for a long time, the turmeric farmers of Nizamabad district are gearing up to fight against the leaders, who failed to keep their promise of establishing turmeric board. The farmers have given an ultimatum to the leaders that they will wait till August 15. They are also angry for not giving a minimum support price for their yield.

Turmeric is the most cultivated crop in Nizamabad district. The turmeric farmers had changed the fate of political leaders in the Lok Sabha elections, but their luck hasn't changed ever since. The farmers had expected for a minimum support price will be announced and turmeric board will be set up. But their hopes never materialised.

They started questioning the leaders, who promised of setting up of turmeric board. Turmeric is cultivated in 33,000 acres in the district. High investment costs and long-term harvest of turmeric cultivation makes the farmers work more difficult. The investment will be from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per acre. If they get a good yield and good price, then they can earn Rs 2.5 lakh per acre. But with the present price, the income they get is not even meets the investment they put up for farming. The farmers have been fighting for turmeric special board and for minimum support price for the last 15 years. But so far, there is no announcement.

In the past, the Central government had decided not to set up turmeric board. The farmers' demand for minimum support price for turmeric has become a weapon for the politicians to win the elections. But after coming to power, the leaders forget about turmeric board and minimum support price, the farmers lamented.

Leaders of Farmers' United Action Committee warned that their agitation will be intensified if the Central government do not announce a clear stand before August 15. They remembered late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's reign, during which turmeric was purchased by Markfed at Rs 17,000 per quintal. But the successive rulers never paid more than Rs 4,000 per quintal, they pointed out.

Turmeric farmer in the district Bullet Ram Reddy demanded for turmeric board to be set up. He said that Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind promised to set up turmeric board, during the last Lok Sabha election, but failed in implementing his promise. Lamenting that what is the use of cultivating the crop without a good price, he warned that agitations will be intensified if the leaders and officials delay the setting up of turmeric board.

Another farmer, Musku Rajeshwar demanded that a support price of Rs 15,000 per quintal should be announced. "Before elections, the leaders promised to announce minimum support price for turmeric. But they forgot their promise after the elections." Rajeshwar warned that the farmers will launch a massive movement if minimum support price is not announced. He requested the Central government to support the turmeric farmers.