Farmers say they are pushed into debt trap

Smt. Y.S. Sharmila interacting with people during her Maro Praja Prasthanam Padayatra in EG District on Monday

Peddapuam (EG) June18, 2013: The farming community of East Godavari district complained to Smt. Y.S. Sharmila during her Maro Praja Prasthanam Padayatra that they were forced into a debt trap as the Government had failed to hike the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their agricultural produce.

During her interaction with farmers at several villages in Peddapuram assembly constituency of East Godavari district on Monday, the farmers told her the Government has so far not released the crop insurance amounts worth Rs.200 Cr in the district.

“There is neither MSP for our agricultural produce nor is there any compensation to the crop losses as a result of which we were pushed into debt trap,” they lamented, saying the insurance premium charge was also raised to 5.4 per cent from 4.5 per cent in the amended crop insurance scheme.

The farmers brought to the notice of Smt. Sharmila that the Sago crop, which is being cultivated in 35,000 acres in the district, is now being abandoned by the farmers due to lack of MSP to the produce.

Near Vadlamuru, sugarcane farmers complained to her that only Rs.200 per ton was hiked in the MSP of sugar cane in the last four years while YSR had raised the MSP to Rs.2000 from Chandrababu regime’s Rs.1000 per ton.” We are in a debt trap and forced to sell our lands to pay the debts,” they told her.

Even coconut farmers too complained to her about the lack of support to them from the Government side.

Smt. Sharmila asked the farmers not to worry and assured them they would have good days ahead.