Groundnut farmers protest for remunerative price for produce

Nagarkurnool: Farmers in Achampet mandal in Nagarkurnool district once again on Monday staged a protest against the market officials and demanded minimum support price for groundnut crop.

A group of farmers after having altercation with the Market Yard officials came out, raising slogans. They demanded that the government immediately come to the rescue of the groundnut farmers who are being fleeced by the traders in the Market Yard. The farmers staged a protest and a sit-in on the road at Ambedkar junction.

Even a month ago, similar protests were witnessed in Achampet. However, at that time the local MLA Guvvala Balaraj had promised them that he would do his best to get adequate MSP for the groundnut and later the government opened one or two procurement centres in Nagarkurnool district.

But the price offered by the government for the best quality groundnut is only Rs 4,500 a quintal. Most of the farmers are alleging that they are being given just between Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 a quintal. “We are not satisfied by the price provided by the government for the groundnut. We demand that the government give us at least Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 a quintal,” observed the protesting farmers.

According to Market Yard officials, this year, the groundnut production in Nagarkurnool district is at its peak and the demand for it has gone down, because of this there is a slump in the price of groundnut in the open market. However, they promised that they would take the farmers demands to the notice of the government and soon try to resolve the issue.