Lok Satta draws CM's attention to jute seed producers' plight

The Lok Satta Party today drew Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's attention to the plight of jute seed growers in Prakasam and Guntur districts and requested him to go to their rescue through market intervention.

In a representation to the Chief Minister, State Lok Satta Party President Katari Srinivasa Rao pointed out that the market rate for jute seeds has plunged to Rs.1400 a quintal as against Rs. 15000 in West Bengal. Even according to the State Agriculture Department, the cost of production works out to Rs.9000 a quintal.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that jute seed producers in Prakasam and Guntur district are saddled with stocks of nearly 5000 quintals.

The Lok Satta Party President wanted the Chief Minister to direct market committees, which have collected crores of rupees as market cess, to buy the produce from farmers at a fair price. The market committees in turn can sell the produce in West Bengal or to the Jute Corporation of India and make profits.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao informed the Chief Minister that Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has already drawn the attention of the Cooperation and Agriculture Departments to the crisis jute seed producers are facing.

The Chief Minister promised to talk to Markfed on the problem, according to Mr. Srinivasa Rao.

Mr. P. Bhaskara Rao of the farmers' wing of the Lok Satta Party and Mr. Edara Ratna Rao of the Federation of Independent Farmers' Associations, accompanied Mr. Srinivasa Rao.