Maha Farmers Launch Indefinite Strike, Spill Milk on Highways

Farmers want a complete waiver of loans, proper pricing, and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report.

Gallons of milk were spilled on highways. (Photo: ANI Screengrab)

Farmers in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district spilled gallons of milk on the roads as a form of protest on Thursday. Farmers of the state launched an indefinite strike, refusing to sell their produce in cities, following the failure of talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Farmers of the state want a complete waiver of loans, proper pricing, and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, among a host of demands.

The CM made it clear that loan cannot be waived at the moment, and will be done when the right time comes, but farmers should be able to survive till then. Farmers are really angry with this government. Suicide rates are on a constant rise and we are not getting enough money for our produce.

Jayant Suryawanshi, Kisan Kranti Morcha

Markets at all the major cities of the state have been hit as there is an acute shortage of supplies. As a result, prices of commodities have risen steeply. Neighbouring state Gujarat is also set to be affected as farmers from Nashik have refused to send their produce.

People say the strike might go on for 6 days. Everybody is facing problems. The government should waive off the farmers’ loans like Yogi Adityanath did in Uttar Pradesh

Santosh Wagh, vegetable vendor

The strike comes a month after the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government waived off loans for small farmers in the state.

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj