Farmers stage 24 hours protest for support prices

22.02.10 : General Secretary of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) G C Baiya Reddy said that about 2 lakh farmers are on the verge of committing suicide owing to areca nut and coconut losses at the 24-hour dharna sathyagraha staged in front of the DC’s office on February 22, Monday.

The protest was organized by Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), DK samithi, demanding a support price of Rs 125 for areca nut and Rs 7 for coconut. The protest will be on from Feb 22, 10 a.m. to Feb 23, 10 a.m.

Reddy said that the farmers who work so hard to provide food for people are themselves struggling to lead a comfortable life. He accused the government of betraying the areca nut and coconut growers of Karnataka in the name of privatization.

Ramakrishna Bhat said that along with the areca nut and coconut growers even paddy growers are not getting support prices today. He alleged that the chief minister Yeddyurappa has failed to fulfill the promises he had made to the farmers before coming to power. He said that the rate of the coconut is rapidly declining and will decline further if the government does not do something about it.

K R Sriyan, the district president; K Yadav Shetty, the general secretary of KPRS; Muliya Keshavaiah; Shrinivas Alva; Nonaiah Gowda; and Dugappa also participated in the protest.