AAP seeks aid for farmers hit by yellow mosaic virus in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh unit of Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP) today demanded that the state government take immediate steps to help the farmers whose crops had been damaged by ' yellow mosaic virus' and pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare.

The virus affects various leguminous plants (pulses).

"Yellow mosaic virus is causing immense damage, especially to pulses and soybean, in almost all the districts. The state government should immediately take steps to check its spread and pay compensation to farmers," state AAP convener Alok Agrawal said here.

"If the government didn't pay a fair compensation to the farmers, AAP will launch an agitation at the tehsil-level from September 10," he said.

The farmers should get Rs 50,000 per hectare of damaged crops, he said.

The virus had wreaked havoc especially in Sagar, Damoh, Raisen, Ujjain, Dewas and Jhabua districts, he said.