Telangana: Nizamabad farmers demand establishment of turmeric board, higher MSP ahead of Lok Sabha polling

Nizamabad (Telangana) [India], May 1 (ANI): Ahead of polling in Nizamabad, farmers are demanding the establishment of the turmeric board in Nizamabad and an increase in MSP price on other crops.
Speaking to ANI, a farmer from Ankapur village, Perkit Pedda Bhoomann expressed his concern, saying that farmers don't receive the amount of profit as compared to what they invest, resulting in less production, he said, adding that the farmers are shifting to paddy production.
"To farm an acre of turmeric the farmer is investing 1.50 lakhs and while we sell we are getting the same amount only with not much profit. Farmers are producing less turmeric and shifting to paddy production. The turmeric board has not been allotted yet but the government said it will be done in phases. We have a large market here. We will vote for the party which supports and gives a subsidy to us on seeds of different crops," Bhoomann said.
Meanwhile, another farmer Ganga Reddy told ANI that whoever will provide timely electricity and help farmers with fertilizers will receive support from the farmer community in the elections. Further explaining the situation, he said that earlier there were 300 farmers, who cultivated turmeric but due to low profit many stopped the cultivation, resulting in a low production of turmeric, he said.
"Whoever provides timely electricity and helps farmers with fertilizers we will vote for them. Earlier in the village 300 farmers were there they cultivated Turmeric but they didn't get a good price. This year many stopped the cultivation and very little turmeric was produced. Turmeric farmers have no option and facing many losses and shifting to paddy cultivation. If MSP is there farmers would be good and very happy. Turmeric board was not formed this year and if that formed farmers will be relieved," said Ganga Reddy.
"From last three years, Turmeric rate has decreased. All the farmers shifted to another profitable crop. We shifted to paddy and corn. This year the turmeric rate has increased so in the next year we plan to put turmeric. But we are confused as rates keep fluctuating," told another farmer Chinna Gangadhar to ANI.
Earlier, ahead of Assembly elections in Telangana, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced that research in turmeric will be taken up in Nizamabad district so that turmeric farmers can get more money for their produce.
"Orders were issued for the establishment of the National Turmeric Board. The research will be taken up in the next phase. Processing units will also be established," Amit Shah said while addressing a public meeting as part of the election campaign in Nizamabad.
Voting for all 17 seats in Telangana is set to take place on May 13 in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
In the 2019 general election, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won nine seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party four, Congress three and AIMIM one seat. (ANI)