Farmers in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district spilled gallons of milk on the roads as a form of protest on Thursday. Farmers of the state launched an indefinite strike, refusing to sell their produce in cities following the failure of talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Farmers of the state want a complete waiver of loans, proper pricing, and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report among a host of demands.
Agitated farmers led by MP Raju Shetty, the leader of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana protested against the government’s apathy outside he state Assembly by throwing onions and tur daal to the ground. Raju Shetty and some other members of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana also courted arrest. Farmers are aggrieved by the fact that while production costs for onion have been Rs 700-800 per quintal, all that they are able to recoup in the market is a rate of Rs 500 per quintal. Having taken loans to cultivate the crops, the farmers feel selling the produce is going to be a fruitless exercise.
