Chukki Nanjundaswamy Calls for Unity to Strengthen Farmers’ Movement

Gurlapur, October 27: Chukki Nanjundaswamy, daughter of renowned farmers’ leader Prof. M.D. Nanjundaswamy, extended her support to the ongoing sugarcane growers’ protest at Gurlapur, demanding fair prices for agricultural produce and due recognition for farmers’ hard work. She also appreciated the efforts of farmer leader Chunappa Pujeri in strengthening the farmers’ movement.

Addressing the protesting farmers at Gurlapur, Chukki Nanjundaswamy said the agitation was aimed at securing remunerative prices for crops. She expressed concern that farmers, who feed the entire world, were increasingly burdened by debt due to inadequate returns for their produce.

“Despite their immense contribution to society, farmers are not receiving the recognition and respect they deserve. Successive governments have failed to ensure fair prices for agricultural produce, resulting in injustice to the farming community,” she said.

Considering the investment, labour and expenses involved in cultivation, even the demand for Rs 5,500 per tonne of sugarcane was insufficient, she observed. Farmers, she said, actually expected a price of Rs 10,000 per tonne.

Referring to a meeting held on Monday at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, she expressed dissatisfaction over the behaviour of certain individuals when farmer leader Chunappa Pujeri was presenting the farmers’ demands. She alleged that some people appeared to be present merely to create disturbances rather than address the genuine problems of farmers.

However, she described the subsequent unity among farmers’ organisations across Karnataka, which submitted a joint memorandum, as a significant development. She said the formation of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Coordination Committee and a series of meetings had helped bring farmers together and demonstrate their collective strength.

Appreciates Chunappa Pujeri’s efforts

Chukki Nanjundaswamy praised Chunappa Pujeri for working as an ordinary activist to revive and strengthen the farmers’ organisation established by her father, Prof. M.D. Nanjundaswamy, during the 1980s.

“It is heartening to see efforts being made to build a farmers’ movement that could become a model for the entire country. Had my father been alive, he would have been extremely happy to witness these developments,” she said.

Emphasising the importance of unity, she said protecting the strength of the farmers’ organisation was everyone's responsibility. She cautioned against attempts to create differences within the organisation and weaken its unity.

She also advised Chunappa Pujeri and Shashikant Guruji to remain vigilant against efforts to divide the organisation and undermine its collective strength.

Through her address, Chukki Nanjundaswamy underlined that unity among farmers’ organisations, fair remuneration for agricultural produce and a responsible response from the government were essential to safeguarding farmers’ rights.