38 groups have joined hands with a number of demands that include agricultural loan write-offs
This may be the time to stock up on essentials as farmer groups have called a strike and stop supplies of vegetables and milk to cities like Mumbai from June 1. The protestors have also threatened to stop supply of these products from neighbouring states like Gujarat and Karnataka to Maharashtra to press for their demand of farm loan waivers and remunerative pricing.
"Our requests for agricultural loan write-offs have been futile. Farm distress has increased during the BJP-Shiv Sena regime," said Jayajirao Suryavanshi of the Annadata Shetkari Sanghatana. He added that they were also demanding 50 per cent profits above the production cost for agricultural produce, crop loans at zero interest, free drip irrigation sets, free power supply for eight hours to water pumps and pensions for farmers above the age of 60.
Pointing at how prices of wheat, bananas, grapes, gram and pulses had fallen, Suryavanshi claimed they had the support of 38 farmer groups, ex-servicemen, political formations and religious bodies including those of the warkari community with more willing to join forces.
"We have asked farmers to stay away from selling (vegetables, grain, fruit and milk). They can cultivate produce like pulses which have a long shelf life and make milk into khoya, ghee, paneer or even donate it to the deserving... Supplies to all cities, districts and talukas will be stopped," he said.
"So far around 500 gram sabhas have passed resolutions to stand by us. The government is not hearing our pleas. This is the reason we want to put city dwellers in trouble so that they pressurise the government. However, I would like to apologise to them in advance for any inconvenience," Suryavanshi said.
He added that the farmers would intensify their stir if the state government does not accept their demands within the first week of June.
Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had met representatives of 40 villages around Puntamba in Ahmednagar along with Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, leader of the Opposition.
...& ANALYSIS
- The rising agrarian distress has been made worse by mishandling of issues like the procurement of tur dal from farmers. In a country like India where majority of the population depend on agriculture for livelihood, poverty cannot be alleviated without economic upliftment of farmers, especially dry-land farmers.
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