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Farmers to protest `free market policies'

Our Bureau

MANGALORE, Nov. 9

EVEN as the news of the suicide of a `debt-ridden farmer' in Hebri has started spreading all over the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, the Belthangady taluk committee of the Parisarasaktha Krishikara Vedike (Karnataka) plans to hold a rally in Bel thangady on November 22 protesting against the Centre's `free market policies'.

Addressing the press here on Thursday, the office bearers of the Vedike, while stating the fall in the prices of arecanut, coconut, rubber, paddy, cashew and other agricultural produce, also said the Government should check the `unhampered import' of agr icultural produce.

The Vedike also asked the Centre to conduct a `study' to determine the cause for fluctuations in the prices of agricultural produce. Among the other demands put forward is the announcement of support prices for arecanut (at least Rs 100), coconut (Rs 6 p er coconut), rubber (Rs 50 per kg), cashew (Rs 40 per kg) and paddy (Rs 1,200 per quintal).

It also said that unless the prices touch these levels farming on a small-scale would become economically unviable, adding that the Government should also take steps to protect the interests of agricultural labour.

Stating that about 80 per cent of them in the Dakshina Kannada district were small farmers owning not more than two or three acres of land and selling their labour to large farmers, the Vedike said it was the `responsibility' of the Government to ensure that the farmers get a `viable' price for their produce so that the minimum wage of agricultural labour could be raised from the present Rs 40-45 per day (eight hours) to Rs 75.