KAKINADA: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Saturday demanded that the State government pay compensation to the farmers who declared ‘crop holiday' for the ensuing kharif season, on the lines of paying salaries to the employees who were on strike.
A three-member committee headed by former Minister Kodela Sivaprasada Rao visited Amalapuram and Mummidivaram areas for two days to study the ground realities that forced the farmers to declare crop holiday.
Addressing the media after winding up the tour, Mr. Sivaprasada Rao expressed anguish at the State government for sending neither Ministers nor officials to the villages, even after the crop holiday was declared.
“It shows the negligent attitude of the State government and the Ministers are making fun out of the agrarian crisis. Their comments belittling the farmers are nothing but rubbing salt on their wounds,” the TDP leader said.
Support extended
Observing that the ground realities were pathetic in Amalapuram and Mummidivaram areas, where the farmers invested huge amount on the crop, but were not getting at least half the investment by selling the produce.
“Their heartburn is genuine and even illiterate farmers are reluctant to go for the kharif crop. On behalf of TDP, we are extending our full support to farmers,” he said.
Mr. Sivaprasada Rao felt that there was every possibility of farmers from other parts of the State could join hands with the farmers of East Godavari, as the situation was not different in the other districts too.
“For the first time, paddy farmers are coming out with a unanimous decision of declaring a crop holiday. If the government failed to respond to their demands in time, we have to face the challenge of food security in the near future,” he said.
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