Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has urged govt to support farmers and called upon party members to help the farming community as paddy and maize crops in market yards suffered damage due to the unseasonal rain and strong winds across the state.“No govt can survive if farmers shed tears,” he said, urging the administration to wake up and purchase the rain-soaked grains to support the farmers.In a statement, KTR expressed distress over the plight of farmers in Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda, whose paddy got drenched due to the rain. He criticised govt for its negligence, highlighting the struggles of farmers trying to save their produce using cell phone lights due to power outages. He blamed the plight of farmers on govt incompetence and lack of foresight, and criticised the delay in grain procurement.Former minister T Harish Rao also visited some villages in Siddipet district and asked govt to come to the rescue of the farmers, who were waiting in the market yards for paddy procurement.The BRS working president said it was govt’s responsibility to support farmers during these tough times. He urged BRS cadre to go to the field to support the farming community during this adverse situation. He instructed party representatives, leaders, and workers to visit all market yards and procurement centres in their respective areas immediately. He called on them to stand by every farmer whose hard-earned crop got drenched, provide full support and solidarity on behalf of the party. He directed party members to bring this issue to the attention of officials and exert pressure on govt to ensure immediate purchase of the soaked grains and do justice for farmers.KTR demanded that govt purchase the rain-soaked paddy, maize and other grains at the minimum support price (MSP) without any excuses related to moisture content or damage. He also called for the immediate restoration of electricity supply at market yards and for providing farmers with sufficient tarpaulin covers to protect the remaining grain. He asked the state to provide immediate compensation to all farmers who lost their crops due to the rain.
