Mangalore : Bantwal MLA Ramanath Rai said that after the BJP governemtn came into power, the farmers are facing lot of problem. Hence the farmers will hold the Farmers Convention on April 16, Saturday.
Speaking at the press meet held at District Congress Office on April 13, Wednesday he said that the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had promised to provide good facilities for the farmers after coming into power, but later they
said that they are not responsible for the crisis in the agricultural market.
Sullia Block Congress president Venkatesh Gowda said that the state government has passed the bill on 8-9-2009 to take the governmental agricultural land  from the farmers. They had also given the notice to the farmers 15 days before to vacate the land.
He said that there are types of lands like Kumki, Kana and Bane. The farmers in the Sullia taluk has right for the Kumki land according to Madras Standing Board. If all the agricultural land is taken from the farmers then Dakshina Kannada will face the problems in future. Hence the Areca growers started a movement from Sullia taluk and brought to Mangalore and will further continue he said.
He said that CM will visit Sullia taluk for the convention on April 16 near the ols bus stand and other farmers from the BJP parties will also participate in the convention as the farmers and not as the members of any parties. Since the programme is organized by the farmers, no state government will sponsor for the programme and the farmers will only invest for it according to their ability.
At present the areca growers are getting the running rate of Rs 108 for the areca and the state government must make it Rs 150 and give it the growers. The government had held the cut off rate of Rs 75. He urged the government to increase the support price of areca after December, since there will be profit only for stock holders and not growers, he said.
He also said that during the convention, the BJP hoarding are exceptional and the saffron bunting must be avoidedsince it is the farmer’s convention and not BJP programme and we will welcome him with green shawl, he said.
Moideen Bawa, TK Sudhir, Lancelot Pinto and others were present.