Mr N. Subba Rao, 73, of Achanta in West Godavari district was among the few farmers in the South who received a kit of IR-8 paddy seeds in 1967 for one acre.
He grew 40 bags that kharif, becoming a poster boy for the proponents of Green Revolution that had just begun in the country. The acreage grew to 2,000 acres in the following season, repeating the kharif performance.
This made Achanta a tourist spot for Parliament members and agriculture scientists, including those from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
The then Food and Agriculture Minister, Mr C. Subramaniam, who spearheaded Green Revolution from the Government side, too was proud of this village. Seventeen-years later, the village was again in the forefront to get IR-64 that was released to mark the silver jubilee year of IRRI.
Rythu Sangham
This tiny village is hitting headlines again now, ahead of the 2011 kharif season, not for reporting high yields but for declaring a crop holiday.
The apolitical Rythu Sangham, which comprises about 3,500 farmers who sow on 4,500 acres, has taken the decision after failing to get returns on their investments.
“Kharifs have become a drag on us. We have been losing all the while. We are not even getting back our investments,” Mr Subba Rao told Business Line over phone.
“Cost of cultivation has doubled from Rs 10,000 in 2005 to Rs 20,000 an acre in 2010. With no better prospect in sight, we have decided not to grow paddy this year.”
Several other villages in East and West Godavari districts have taken a cue.
Some have passed similar resolutions, forcing the Government to look into the issue.
Reports suggest that Allavaram, Uppalaguptam, Munipalli, Gopavaram and Bheemanapally in East Godavari have passed resolutions in favour of crop holiday.
FCI stocks
With the godowns of Food Corporation India brimming with stocks, farmers in Andhra Pradesh are alleging that they are being forced to undersell their produce.
Mr P. Chengal Reddy, Secretary-General of Confederation of Indian Farmers' Associations (CIFA), said the idea had caught the attention of farmers in all parts of the State.
“We have just heard that several villages in East Godavari have taken a similar oath. This actually reflects acute distress situation,” he said.
The CPI(M)-affiliated All-India Kisan Sabha, however, has taken a different view on the declaration of the crop holiday.
“There is no use in declaring a crop holiday. The Government announced crop holiday for tobacco but it hardly helped. The best way is to fight for remunerative prices,” said Mr Rama Rao of the sabha's State unit.