Govt should start orange processing units in Katol, demands ex-MLA Sunil Shinde

NAGPUR: Former Katol MLA Sunil Shinde has made a list of demands in the interest of orange growers in his letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Among these include two major demands – starting the processing units in Katol and 90% subsidy for drip irrigation.
The other demands include reduction in price of fertilizers and pesticides, distribution of disease free planting material by state agriculture department, reactivating the Nagpur Orange Producers Association (NOGA) and waiving loans of farmers across Maharashtra.Shinde has also demanded that the government should withdraw the psychological sickness rule in farmers’ suicide.
The list of demands also includes revival of the cooperative banks in Nagpur, Wardha, Buldhana districts and making electricity available throughout the day at 50% concession. “Even if the government had started 400 tonne and 100 tonne cold storages respectively at Katol and Morshi it would be of some help to farmers to bring their fruit when the demand is high,” said Shinde.