A group of about 50 turmeric farmers from Nizamabad district on Monday will file their nominations from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections to highlight their long pending demand of setting up a separate welfare board that would look into their issues and resolve them.
The farmers claimed that their problems were not addressed under either of the ruling government. “This was not solved during UPA’s tenure too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did the same. We are not against him or campaigning against anyone,” he said.
Turmeric farmers across the country are facing hardships due to lack of minimum support price for the last three to four years. This year, turmeric prices have fallen to Rs 3,200 per quintal from Rs 5,200 per quintal.
Farmers have alleged that the local administration and Bharatiya Janta Party cadre have expressed disapproval of their decision. The group of 50, despite the objection, have decided to campaign for themselves along with conducting a meeting with other local farmers to discuss their issues.
A similar group of farmers from Tamil Nadu have decided to stand in solidarity with Telangana turmeric farmers.
