Mysore braces up for three-day Kisan meet from tomorrow

About 2,000 farmers are expected to participate

Cultural capital Mysore is all set to host all India representatives meet of Bharateeya Kisan Sangha at Dasara exhibition grounds from February 3 to 5.

This was announced here on Wednesday by general secretary of the sangha Prabhakar Kelkar.

The meet organised for the first time in the city of palaces is expected to be attended by 2,000 farmers from 450 districts across the nation. The meet organised once every three years, will this time discuss burning issues like acquisition of fertile rich lands from the farmers for industries, unscientific prices for sugracane, lack of support price for paddy and also procurement centres for the crop. Resolutions on continuing with the agitation against land acquisition, besides profitable prices for farmers and loan with zero per cent interest rate.

Chairman of the sangha State unit Ranganath Yelandur alleged that in Karnataka alone there is disparity in prices fixed per tonne of sugarcane. In north Karnataka, per tonne of cane fetches Rs 2,000 to farmers, where as in the south it’s less than that. Moreover, transportation charges are not levied on the cane growers in northern part of the State.

He demanded for paddy procurement centres in hobli levels too as the centres opened in taluk levels are inadequate. As a result, most of the farmers are forced to stock the produce nearby their houses and sell the same for a song.

He appealed to the State government to purchase paddy grown in the State like that of dal (thogari bele). When the farmers who had harvested thogari in Gulbarga earlier, the government came for their rescue purchasing the produce. Ranganath feared that if paddy is not accorded similar treatment the farmers will be left in distress.

Shobha yatra

On the convention, Ranganath said as a prelude to the meet a shobha yatra has been organised on the first day at 2 pm. The rally from Dasara exhibition grounds will be flagged off by Suttur Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji. It will pass through 100 feet road, N S road, Shivarampet, Chikkagadiyara, Doddagadiyara and culminate at the launch point. Agriculture expert from Chandigarh Devendra Sharma will inaugurate the meet. Bharateeya Kisaan Sangha president Anantaro Ramachandra Murukute presides.

National secretary of the sangha Mohan Mishra and president of Karnataka southern region I N Basavegowda were present in the press meet.