Mumbai Commodities Control - Hundreds of turmeric farmers in Nizamabad took to the streets, demanding a minimum support price of Rs 15,000 a quintal.
As the marketing season begins, prices have crashed to Rs 4,000-5,000 a quintal (depending on the quality) from Rs 5,500-6,000 a few weeks ago, falling much below the production cost of Rs 7,500 a quintal.
Enraged, the farmers have formed a joint action committee to demand MSP of Rs 15,000 a quintal from the government.
Farmers spend about Rs 1.50 lakh an acre to grow turmeric. On an average, they get about 20 quintals an acre. Telangana is home to one-fourth of India’s turmeric acreage of 4.20 lakh acres, producing over one-fourth of the country’s annual production of 11 lakh tonnes.
“Prices have crashed as the marketing season begins. At Rs 4,000 a quintal, it is quite unviable. The Government should intervene and announce an MSP of Rs 15,000 to ensure remunerative income to the farmers,” Anvesh Reddy, a leader of the Joint Action Committee of turmeric farmers.
Farmers belonging to various political parties and farmer associations have formed the common platform to press their demands. The farmers suffered heavily as rains hit the crop in October. Productivity was affected due to waterlogging in several parts of the State.
Nizamabad, with 36,375 acres, and Jagityal with 32,000 acres comprise half of the State’s acreage of 1.33 lakh acres.
The committees demanded that the Government set up a Turmeric Board at Nizamabad to help address the problems faced by them and promote the produce.
The farmers’ committee will convene a meeting after January 20 to chalk out an action plan to bring pressure on the Government.
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