Farmers’ associations have urged the State government to buy foodgrains directly from farmers and distribute them locally. This, they say, would address several issues like making good the scarcity of foodgrain for the Anna Bhagya scheme, after the Union government’s refusal to allot additional foodgrains, provide assured market to farmers with a steady income, and release them from the clutches of middlemen.
“Why should the people of Karnataka eat rice grown in Punjab, Chhattisgarh, or Andhra Pradesh? Why can’t the government not feed us grains produced by our farmers,” asked Kurubur Shantakumar, president of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Federation. If the State government can utilise the 775 raitha samparka kendras at the hobli levels to sell subsidised seed and fertilisers to farmers, it can also buy farm produce from these centres. Farmers will not be forced to go to faraway wholesale markets to sell their produce,’‘ he said, adding that he had sought an appointment with Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy to discuss this issue.
Another issue raised was of supplying grains to people that are part of the local staple diet. “Let the government give 5 kg rice and 5 kg local grain like jowar, ragi, or parboiled rice. A small amount of millets can also be procured. All these grains can be procured locally at the district, taluk hobli, or even gram panchayat levels, said Sidagouda Modagi, Krishik Samaj leader.
