The Andhra Pradesh Government has finally responded to the protest by farmers in the coastal areas where they have announced crop holiday in about three lakh acres. The Government has formed a high-level committee headed by Mr Mohan Kanda, former Chief Secretary of the State, to identify the circumstances that led to declaration of crop holiday by the farmers.
The committee will recommend measures to mitigate the problems in a month. The Government has directed all relevant departments to provide assistance to the committee to study and assess the situation.
The farmers have decided not to use Delta water and skip this kharif season, protesting against poor support price for paddy.
Dr M V Rao, who was associated with Green Revolution and former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, will be the Vice-Chairman of the committee. Dr K Pratap Reddy, former Director of Institute of Rural Management (IRMA, Anand) and Dr R Sudhakara Rao, Director of Research (ANGRAU) and Mr K Sudhir, Chief Engineer (Godavari Delta, Dowleswaram) are other members in the committee. Ms V Usha Rani, Commissioner of Agriculture, would act as the Member-Secretary.
The Government’s action comes close on the heels of Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, the former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam President, touring the crop holiday area and presenting their case in New Delhi early this week.
“Farmers and various associations have asked Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy, the Chief Minister, to appoint an independent committee to study the problems of farmers in the Konaseema area,” the Government said here in a press release on Thursday.
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