Spl package sought for yellow leaf disease

The farmers and representatives of various political parties discussed in length over the yellow leaf disease affecting arecant in a meeting on Sunday.

It was decided to meet Oscar Feranandes on June 12 in Mangalore and prepare an action plan.

 It was also decided to ascertain pressure on the State government to waive off the loans and to drop the loan recovery. MP D V Sadananda Gowda will be invited to attend a growers meet in Sringeri on June 15.

Farmers said “owing to yellow leaf disease, arecanut plantations have been destroyed over the last six decades. An effort to grow alternative crops have been failed. Research has yielded no result. Government should announce special package to the growers affected with yellow leaf disease.

There has been steep fall in the price of arecanut. However, the price of essential commodities have been increased by four times. Though growers are paying tax to the government, no facilities are given to the growers. There is a need to fight for the cause of growers.”

The meeting was attended by H T Rajendra from JD(S), H G Venkatesh, Sachin Meega, K G Dharmappa, Deepak from Congress,K C Sathish and others from Raitha Sangha, Shivashankar,Chinthan from BJP and N R Ramachandra from CPI.