17th June, 2008 - Armoor in bandh grip

A bandh called for by the all-party committee in Armoor sub-division in Andhra Pradesh was peaceful and total. The band was called to protest AP Seeds Development Corporation not budging to the farmers’ demand for purchase of red jowar at Rs. 1,540 a quintal. Officials led by APSDC Managing Director Arif Mohammad made it clear that they could not afford to pay more than Rs.1,200 a quintal and they came forward to purchase the red jowar only out of “sympathy” for the farmers. Moreover, the red jowar was not a notified seed, they told the farmers’ leaders.