Tur purchase: Farmers hold officials in captivity

Farmers held two officials of Food Corporation of India in captivity after the latter refused to purchase tur citing poor quality, in Kushtagi on Wednesday.

Farmers and officials have been at loggerheads over the purchase of tur. The deputy commissioner had issued a new order on March 19 stating that tur should be purchased on the basis of FAQ quality.

However, the graders of Food Corporation of India (FCI), who examined the produce, rejected to purchase it saying that it doesn't meet the FAQ yardstick. Furious farmers, locked the two officials of the FCI in the APMC room and launched a dharna outside.

MLA Amaregowda Bayyapura, who arrived at the spot, supporters the farmers and told them not to release the officials till the problem was addressed. He claimed that same quality of tur was being purchased in 29 districts of the state while it was being rejected in Koppal district on a lame excuse. No one paid heed to the officials, who said that they would be held responsible for purchase of substandard quality produce.

The officials had submitted a report to the government stating that 90% of the tur grown in the district do not meet the FAQ standard and hence cannot be procured.

The farmers had continued their dharna till evening and the officials too remained in their captivity.