AIKS to highlight farmers' problems

Vijayawada, Oct 15: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) will organise 'Ryturakshana' (Farmers' Protection) Jathas' from October 23 to 30 to highlight the plight of farmers and prevent them from committing suicide due to agriculture crisis in the state, AIKS Vice President Kolli Nageswara Rao said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Rao said the AIKS would staged a 'Mahadharna' (massive agitation) at Hyderabad in this connection on October 31 He blamed the anti-farmer policies 'pursued by the Centre, State and the World Bank' for the crisis.

Terming the package for agriculture announced by the Prime Minister as inadequate, Mr Rao said the while the state government waived the current interest of Rs 1,436 crore, he wanted the previous dues of Rs 1,662 crore also to be written off.

Besides, the farmers faced problems like non-renumerative prices for crops, irregularities in seed distribution and crop damage due to heavy rainfall which had to be redressed.

UNI