Members of Federation of Farmers’ Organisation, led by Kurubur Shanthakumar (third from left), releasing their calls for for political events to incorporate in their election manifesto, in Mysuru on March 14, 2023.
| Photo Credit: SRIRAM MA
In the runup to Assembly elections in Karnataka, farmers from throughout Mysuru and Mandya met in Mysuru on March 14 and resolved that support to political events will hinge on them agreeing to their calls for, which have been laid down in a ‘farmers’ manifesto’.
Federation of Farmers’ Organisation and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leaders mentioned points plaguing farmers and the agricultural sector. They determined to support solely such events and candidates who announce support to their calls for and incorporate them in the election manifesto.
Kurubur Shanthakumar of Sugarcane Cultivators’ Association mentioned, “Political parties should announce their commitment to introduce an income scheme for farmers. It should reflect in their election manifesto so that they could be held accountable.
“While the government does not think twice about waiving off loans amounting to thousands of crores of rupee of industrialists by classifying them as bad debt, political parities should commit themselves to waive off loans availed by farmers who are in distress due to lack of support price for agricultural produce.
“The political parties should also commit themselves to announce interest-free agricultural loans to help farmers sustain themselves.
“Farmers want CIBIL score to be delinked from agricultural loans on the ground that the repayment cycle gets affected due to vagaries of market and nature. On the other hand, CIBIL score affects a farmer’s access to fresh loans.”
The Federation of Farmers’ Organisations mentioned the GST on agriculture-related tools needs to be withdrawn whereas crop insurance coverage schemes ought to cowl all crops cultivated by farmers.
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has resolved to support solely such events that announce and incorporate in their election manifesto their demand for rescinding the modification to Land Reforms Act. The KRRS additionally desires the modification to the APMC Act to be withdrawn together with the regulation banning cow slaughter.
Badagalpura Nagendra, president of KRRS, mentioned, “Land Reforms Act and other laws are inimical to farmers.”
He desires the Congress to spell out its stance on introducing laws to make minimal support worth for agricultural produce necessary relatively than it being advisory in nature, as at current. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had accepted the demand as reliable through the Bharat Jodo yatra, and the State Congress ought to spell out its stance on this subject, Mr. Nagendra added.
He desires even the Janata Dal (Secular), which claims to be supportive of farmers, to announce its stance on key calls for of farmers.
