Maize growers stage protests in Kittur Karnataka

Various districts in Kittur Karnataka, including Dharwad, Haveri, and Gadag witnessed protests by farmers’ organisations on Monday seeking early intervention by both State and Central governments to safeguard the interests of maize growers by ensuring a minimum support price of ₹3,000 per quintal. In Haveri district, religious heads too took part in the agitation in support of growers.

A huge protest rally was taken out in Haveri by farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene in a bid to highlight the grievances of farmers.

Seers join

Many seers, including Sadashiva Swami of Hukkeri Mutt and Basava Shanthalinga Swami of Hosa Mutt, among others, took part in the protest march taken out by farmers.

As a large number of farmers staged a sit-in at Hosamani Siddappa Circle, vehicular movement was affected for some time. A similar protest was staged in the neighbouring town of Ranebennur. Haveri district is one of the major maize producing districts in the State.

Their demand was that in addition to the MSP of ₹2,400 announced by the Centre, the State government should give an assistance of ₹600 per quintal and procure maize at ₹3,000 a quintal. They demanded that both the Centre and the State should stop mud-slinging and take corrective measures to resolve their problem.

In Gadag, the indefinite day-and-night protest which was launched by ‘Samagra Raita Horata Vedike’ and other organisations entered the 10th day on Monday.

Farmers congregated under the banner of All India Krishak Khet Mazdoor Sanghatan (AIKKMS) and staged a demonstration before Mini-Vidhana Soudha in Hubballi.

Fast ends

Meanwhile, the Dharwad district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu G.R.J.  and Navalgund MLA N.H. Konaraddi, managed to convince farmers’ leader Shankar Ambali to withdraw his indefinite fast, which had entered the fourth.