Panel set up to study ryots issues

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday constituted a high-level committee headed by former chief secretary Mohan Kanda to mitigate the problems faced by farmers, particularly in Konaseema area where the farmers have declared a crop holiday. The committee will study the problems being faced by farmers in the state and submit a report within four weeks.The high-level committee has been asked to identify the circumstances that led to the declaration of crop holiday by farmers of 13 mandals in Konaseema of East Godavari district and propose measures for prevention of similar situation in other areas of the state.All relevant departments and agencies have been advised to render requisite assistance to the committee. It may be recalled that paddy farmers of Konaseema in East Godavari district have decided to observe crop holiday during kharif this year and are not taking up farming activity in a total cultivable area of 43,087 hectares.The officials in the chief minister’s office said that the committee was constituted following the representations from farmers and various associations of farmers to the chief minister demanding an independent committee to study the problems of the farmers particularly in Konaseema area. Thus, the state government has deputed retired IAS officer Mohan Kanda, who is currently heading the steering committee on agriculture in the Planning Commission.