Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 2: Udupi District Janapara Horata Samithi leader, Umanath Shetty, has given a deadline of November 5 for the government to announce support price of Rs 2,500 per quintal of paddy. He warned that if suitable steps are not taken by them, in the first phase, farmers will showcase their might by holding protest in front of the office of the deputy commissioner here.

He was addressing a press conference held here on Monday November 1. He said that later, a meeting of people's representatives, officials and farmers will be convened where a memorandum of demands will be submitted. If there is no response still, stronger measures of protest will be organized, he said.

Shetty said that there should be deputy commissioners to the department of agriculture at the district level like the excise department to take on the spot decisions.

Farmer Krishnamurthy Kota, said that minimum support price of Rs 2,500 per quintal can cover costs of cultivation. He said that even though the current support price is Rs 1,940 per quintal, the mills are buying paddy at Rs 1,000 per quintal from the farmers, which is resulting in gross injustice to the farmers. He pointed out that in Kerala, paddy support price is Rs 2,748.

Samithi leaders Vikas Hegde, K Bhoja Poojary, Vasanth Giliyar and others were present.