Prakash Kammaradi, chairman of the State Agriculture Prices Commission, has said that the increase in price of agriculture produce was good for the agrarian sector, provided its benefits reached the farmers. “Middle class families can afford to buy toor dal at Rs. 100 a kg or onion at Rs. 50 a kg . This is the actual cost of the products that farmers deserve,” he said while speaking at a seminar on agrarian crisis organised by the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha here on Sunday.
. “The media in its debates over price rise projects only consumers, not the producers. These consumers become price-conscious when it comes to purchasing agriculture produce,” he said.
“The Centre does not give importance to export our products as much as it gives to importing agriculture produce. This move helps merchants, middlemen and multi-nationals, not the farmers. I have written to the Centre not to import onion as farmers of Karnataka alone have over 15 lakh tonnes of onion in the fields,” he said.
He also took a dig at the Union government for its direction against offering bonus that State governments had offered, in addition to the minimum support price of certain agriculture produces. “The Centre argues that providing bonus will cause inflation and also cause loss to private merchants. This is unfortunate. Should States not safeguard interests of farmers?” he questioned.
Viju Krishnan, joint secretary of Akhila Bharat Kissan Sabha, and Maruti Manpade, state president of KPRS were present.

Source : The Hindu