Ryots take out procession demanding MSP for fruits, vegetables

Mysore, Apr 17 (UNI) The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) today took out a procession in the city, urging the State Government to announce a support price for fruits, vegetables and flowers on the lines of paddy, sugarcane, cereals and other agricultural produce.

The procession, led by KRRS President K S Puttaniah, passed through the main thoroughfares of the city and culminated at the regulated market yard.

Addressing the processionists, Mr Puttaniah said the State Government should announce a minimum procurement price for all types of vegetables and fruits and waive off transportation charges in KSRTC and private buses.

Pointing out the recent crash in prices of vegetables, he said cultivators across the State were in dire straits and at the mercy of 'Dalals', merchants and police who harass them. Farmers growing fruits and vegetables in the State were incurring an annual loss of Rs 5,000 crore owing to artificial deflation of prices and the ryots were even prepared to abandon cultivation.

Criticising the Government for its ''indifference'' to the predicament of farmers, Mr Puttaniah called for formulating a system that eliminated middlemen, agents and dalals and facilitated direct purchase from farmers.

He demanded the setting up of cold storages at all APMC yards to help store these highly perishable products during a glut. He urged the Governent to ensure technological support to farmers from the Central Food Technological Research Institute.

Hundreds of farmers from Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and other districts participated in the procession.

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