-Caveat Lector- low graphics version | feedback | help http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_971000/9 71326.stm Friday, 13 October, 2000, 22:54 GMT Indian farmers halt trains Farmers are heavily dependent on government buying their produce Thousands of farmers in India's northern state of Punjab have blocked major highways and railway tracks to protest against the government's refusal to buy their produce. The farmers are heavily dependent on the procurement of their produce by federal and state government agencies at a pre- determined and remunerative price. However, government officials say their warehouses are already full with last year's produce, and they have no option but to slow down the procurement. Punjab's main opposition parties have called for a general strike on Saturday to support the farmers' demands. Several trains, passing through the state, had to be re-routed and cancelled when large groups of farmers staged a sit-in on the railway tracks. Farmers' representatives said the government's failure to buy this year's harvest had already caused huge losses to small and marginal farmers. Many farmers were forced to sell their produce well below the minimum purchase price fixed by the government. The representatives said if the rice remained unsold, many farmers would not have enough money to buy seeds for next year's crop. The Food Corporation of India, the principal state-run company that buys agricultural produce, said that nearly 80% of the paddy harvest in Punjab this year is blighted and below the required standard. The company also said it does not have enough space to store the crop it would procure from the farmers. Punjab is India's largest agricultural state, and has been the primary food producer for many decades. ### The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. - Albert Einstein <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
