After observing a ‘crop holiday' for five months, farmers in ten mandals in Amalapuram division in Konaseema resumed agricultural activity. They were seen busy draining out water from the fields and keeping ready seedlings for sowing in the first week of November. “We will begin transplantation on November 6, an auspicious day,” said Satyanarayana, a farmer from Allavaram.
Meanwhile, farmers under the banner Konaseema Rythu Parirakshana Samiti met Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy in Hyderabad on Friday and sought his help in increasing MSP, additional 10 kg seed to Konaseema farmers. It is understood that the Chief Minister did not give any concrete assurance to them. To mount pressure on the government, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh staged a huge rally in Kakinada. Parirakshna Samiti leaders Rambala Bose and M.L. Prabhakar confirmed that ‘crop holiday' was over and sowing would start, marking the beginning of the rabi season.
Distribution centres
On its part, the district administration is taking all measures to open seed and fertilizer distribution centres. “We will distribute 20 kg seed per acre,” said K. Raju, Agriculture Extension Officer. Agriculture activity picked up in Allavaram, Uppalaguptam, Inavelli, Razole, P. Gannavaram, Amalapuram Rural, and other mandals.
Upset over the State government's apathetic attitude, Konaseema farmers made ‘crop holiday' declaration at Bendamurulanka village in Allavaram mandal on May 28 this year and stopped cultivation in 85,000 to 1 lakh acres.
During their five-month-long agitation farmers took to the streets, organised bandhs, seminars and laid siege to the Collectorate and RDO offices. National leaders from the Opposition, including the BJP, visited the region. Pushed on the back foot, the government had constituted the Mohan Kanda Committee to look into farmers' grievances.
The government, in principle, agreed to implement the committee's recommendations, but the farmers were not impressed and termed it ‘eyewash.'
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