Potato farmers line up for help

The Mayawati government, which is still grappling with the problems of sugarcane farmers, has not yet taken steps to prevent distress sale by farmers.

Adding to the farmers’ woes, cold storage owners have decided to hike their rates. ‘‘The Power Corporation has raised tariff by 5 per cent and the palledari rate has doubled. We have no option but to raise storage charges,’’ Cold Storage Association president Mahendra Swaroop said.