Farmers close canal locks in east Godavari

RAJAHMUNDRY: Paddy farmers of East Godavari district who themselves declared a crop holiday in kharif denouncing the state government’s ‘failure’ to ensure the minimum support price for their produce, have closed the canal locks in Konaseema disrupting the supply of water to crops.Canal locks in Chintanalanka of P Gannavaram mandal, in Mukkamala of Ambajipeta, in Nadipudi of Amalapuram and Katrenipadu-I have been closed as part of their stir against the government’s ‘indifferent attitude’ towards their welfare.They have also expressed their displeasure over the ‘failure’ of MLAs and MPs to safeguard the interests of small and marginal farmers when they are in distress. Due to the closure of canal locks, Aynavilli, Mummidivaram, I Polavaram, Katrenikona, Uppalaguptam, Amalapuram rural and Allavaram mandals are facing drinking water shortage. Fish tanks in 12,000 acres have also been hit as they are not getting fresh water. Cultivation of paddy crop has not been taken up in about 80,000 acres in the region.The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has launched a campaign in the district urging    farmers to observe the crop holiday in kharif to teach a lesson to the government  which ‘ignored’ the development of agriculture sector though a majority of population is still dependent on it for their livelihood.Though more and more farmers are willing to leave their lands fallow in kharif, the agricultural officials have not initiated any measures to motivate them to take up paddy cultivation by assuring remunerative price for their produce.   Paddy  crop in two lakh acres is likely to be hit in Konaseema if the ryots strictly adhere to their decision. A Rama Rao, a farmer of Gannavaram, said: “The state government has failed to protect the interests of small and marginal ryots by ensuring remunerative price for their produce.”A Rama Swamy of Mukkamala said they would not  reap a good harvest in kharif season.