GUWAHATI, March 13 - Members of the Krishak-Shramik Unnayan Parishad, Assam will take recourse to an indefinite fast from March 16 at Mandiya in Barpeta district in protest against the failure of the State government to procure the potatoes produced by the farmers of Barpeta district at a remunerative price.
The Parishad alleged in a statement here that because of the failure of the State government to procure potatoes at a remunerative price from the farmers, thousands of quintals of potatoes have now been dumped in the tilling fields by the hapless farmers exposing them to the forces of the elements. This is despite the State Government�s assurance to procure potatoes at remunerative price.
The farmers took loans from the private lenders at high rates of interest to produce the potatoes. These farmers are now facing dire consequences and the situation is such that many of them may commit suicide. By this time middlemen have been taking advantage of the situation, said the Parishad, which sent a five-member delegation to Barpeta district to take stock of the situation there.
