ANANTAPUR: Farmers' and farm workers' unions in the State have formed a United Action Committee (UAC) to agitate against the problems of the two sections including the losses suffered by the farmers due to drought conditions, floods and suicides.

Talking to newspersons here on Thursday State president of CPI affiliated Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham K. Ramakrishna said they would unitedly exert pressure on the Government to come to the rescue of farmers and farm workers.

Relief package and free power failed to bail them out and suicides were continuing unabated. In spite of tall claims of the State Government about 2,000 farmers committed suicide since the Congress regained power and the number was about 400 since June this year.

He demanded that the Government write off agriculture loans up to Rs. 1 lakh as farmers had suffered yet another crop loss.

While drought conditions forced crop loss in districts like Anantapur, Mahabubnagar and other districts, floods had watered down their hopes in another 13 districts. Groundnut was damaged in about 12 lakh acres in Anantapur district alone and crops in another 19 lakh acres were damaged due to floods.

Agitation plans

He also urged the Government to write off loans pertaining to leaseholders of endowments lands and pay a compensation of Rs. 2,500 per acre to all farmers who had suffered crop loss.

The action committee would stage dharnas in front of collectorates in all districts on December 11 and stage a protest in front of the Assembly on December 18 pressing for their 19 demands.

He suggested the Government to set up SEZs in `porambok and banjar' lands.

District secretary of CPI (M) affiliated Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham P. Peddi Reddy urged the Government to declare all mandals in the district drought-affected.

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