Mango growers block road and stage protest in Srinivasapura over fall in prices, bandh observed

KOLAR: Srinivasapura town in the district observed a bandh on Wednesday to protest against the steep fall in prices of mangoes. Farmers also blocked the road near Rojaranahalli with tractors and dumped mangoes on the road demanding that the state government announce support price for the fruit.

The bandh call was supported by various organisations, including the BJP and JD(S). Farmers and mango growers demanded that the state government announce support price like done by Andhra Pradesh. The protesting farmers pointed out that the price of mango has crashed to Rs 3,000-4,000 per ton.

District Deputy Commissioner M R Ravi, along with SP Nikhil B, Assistant Commissioner Dr Maithri and the tahsildar, visited the protest site and tried to inform the protesters about the steps taken by the government for mango cultivators. But the protesting farmers would not budge. They also raised slogans against the district administration.

The protesters demanded that the government immediately announce support price or the district in-charge minister visit them. They insisted that they would not give up their protest and even warned of continuing it indefinitely.

Finally, the farmers and mango cultivators relented after the DC assured them of meeting the district in-charge minister to discuss the issue of support price and also setting up of a mango pulp unit.