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Title: Regarding problems being faced by Poultry Industry and rise in prices of Sugarcane.
SHRI D.K. AUDIKESAVULU (CHITTOOR): Sir, this is regarding poultry which is a farmers’ livelihood providing industry. In Rayalaseema especially, they have been eliminated. Recently, the Government of India has sanctioned relief under OTS scheme.
For want of time, I am requesting you to just allow me to lay down my written Special Mention on the Table of the House.
Another thing is about the sugarcane price increase.
MR. CHAIRMAN: You can lay it.
*SHRI D.K. AUDIKESAVULU: Sir, I lay it..
Respected Sir, I wish to bring to the notice of the House a matter of urgent public importance. The sm all farmers who are struggling to improve their living conditions in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and also the entire country through the meager incomes generated by the poultry were recently hit by the menace of Bird Flue disease which completely eliminated the poultry from their farms. Consequently there are many suicides especially in my district and also throughout the Rayalseema wherein there is no source of water for cultivation and hence the farmers are depending on poultry and milching cows. This is a great setback, which the farming community is still unable to recover from. The unexpected losses and the consequential debt burden are stifling the Indian farmer.
There are now reports that the RBI has advised all the Scheduled Commercial Banks to provide relief to assist distressed farmers whose accounts have earlier been rescheduled on account of natural calamities by framing ‘One Time Settlement (OTS)’ policies. It is learnt that the farmers who have greatly lost because of bird Hue menace are not covered under the OTS Scheme of policies. Even though the Hon ‘bIe Agriculture Minister came to the rescue of the poultry by extending reduction of interest to 4% and also reschedulement facility. But
*The speech was laid on the Table.
unfortunately the small poultry people could not avail the facility. Depriving these farmers from availing the OTS Scheme would immensely affect not only the farmers but also the entire rural communities who survive on this farm activity. ‘While the facilities being extended to the poultry, the Government can take a view that whatever benefit of reduction of interest may be taken into account while considering the OTS scheme.
Inclusion of poultry under the OTS policies can bring relief and cheer to the distressed farmers.
I would therefore urge upon the Government to ensure that the farmers who have lost their poultry/ poultry farms due to the bird flue disease be made eligible to avail the financial relief under the policies of OTS
Sugarcane is grown in 5,00,000 acres and there are 37 sugar factories in AP. If you look at MSP for sugarcane, there is paltry increase of Rs. 7.50 per tonne this year! The problem that sugarcane growers facing are for the last 30 years price has been fixed @ 8.5% recovery. In 2004, recovery percentage has been increased to 9%. Due to this, AP sugarcane growers are losing 200 crores annually. Moreover, earlier fixation was on the basis of peak recovery but now Government is fixing it at average seasonal recovery. As a result, sugarcane growers are losing Rs. 100 per tonne. And, when other States are giving transportation and cutting charges to farmers, sugar mills in AP not giving in spite of SC judgment. As per the existing incentive scheme, whatever purchase tax Government gets should be transferred to farmers. Now, only a portion is given and Bhargav Formula’s 50% of profit that Government gets through free sale of sugar is also denied to farmers.
So, to save AP sugarcane growers, GOI should intervene and direct sugar mills in AP to pay cutting and transportation charges. Sugarcane MSP should be announced before season so that farmer assesses crop viability and accordingly go-ahead. The other major problem to be addressed is, sugar mills are free to purchase sugarcane from any farmer. But, farmer is denied to sell his sugarcane to the mill of his choice. Finally, Zonal system should be abolished forthwith and Crop Insurance Scheme should be extended to farmers in its letter and spirit.