Mangalore : The DK District Committee of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha staged a demonstration in front of the DC office in Mangalore on September 17, Tuesday seeking justifiable compensation to areca growers who were reeling under problems due to the Kole Disease that has affected arecanut plantations due to incessant rains in the district.

Addressing the agitators, KR Sriyan, President of the Sangha said the areca growers were suffering due to the apathetic attitude of the governments. He said the import of areca along with other cash crops, had also affected the domestic growers. The governments have also neglected the demands of the growers to provide good supportive price, he added.

Other demands placed forth included implementation of the recommendations of Gorakh Singh report, fix suitable support price as per the recommendation of Dr Swaminathan Committee report and to waive the bank loans of areca growers. Subsidy was also urged for [purchase of fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural implements.

Yadava Shetty, General Secretary of the Sangha and others were present.