Demands of cold storage association being looked into by CM: Minister
The state government has always stood beside the potato growers and will continue to do so in future, Becharam Manna, minister for agriculture marketing said this morning.
Potato farmers came out on the streets in Bulandshahr on Thursday and spilled the potatoes on the road, demanding adequate price of their produce from the government. After the bumper crop of potatoes, the farmers are forced to sell these at a fairly low price.
The bumper crop of potatoes in the region instead of bringing prosperity to the farmers have added to their woes. The cold storages are all full and the farmers are finding no way out but to sell them at a low price.
Perturbed by this situation farmers came out on the streets of Bulandshahr on Thursday and flooded the main crossing of the city with potatoes.BKU district president Bishan Singh Sirohi also came out in support and spearheaded the protest. The angry farmers marched towards the DM office demanding his intervention against the attitude of the cold storage owners who are taking advantage of the situation
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The farmers are forced to sell potatoes at a price of Rs 1 to 1.50 per kg which is not even covering their expenses but they are at a huge loss, said Singh adding that where do they go when cold storage owners are also refusing to store produce of farmers.
The farmers are demanding to fix a minimum price to procure potatoes so that they could get a reasonable price of their produce.
The farmers have grown potatoes on more than 10 thousand hectares of land in the District with a produce of 250-300 quintals per hectare.
Meanwhile taking cognisance in the matter. District Magistrate Aunjney Kumar Singh has asked the horticulture officer to submit a report on the methodology of cold storages and directed the district agriculture officer for proper monitoring of the procurement of potatoes in the district.
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