Farmers in Karnataka fear as govt sells old 'Tur' below MSP

Kalaburagi, Jan 13: Tur growers of six districts in Kalyan Karnataka region on Wednesday expressed concern as government agency sold the old stock of Tur below Minimum Support price (MSP ) amid the new Tur procurement period.

According to the Karnataka Pranta Raith Sangh President Sharanabasappa Managashetty, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) has started stalling last year's Tur stocks in the open market below the MSP and this has become a major concern among the Tur growers.

Mr Managashetty said 'the NAFED is selling last year's old Tur stock at pricing ranging from Rs 5,300 to Rs 5.800 per quintals in the open market which has created a situation where farmers are forced to compete with the government in the open market.'

Some sections of Tur farmers fear that traders might buy their crops at lower prices from NAFED and sell it back to the government posing as farmers, he said.

The Centre Government has fixed Rs 6,000 per quintal as the MSP for Tur for 2020-21, up from last fiscal which was Rs 5,800 and this year the state government plans to buy 20 quintals at the new MSP from each farmer, the registration process for the same has started.

Jewargi MLA, Dr Ajay Dharm Singh has strongly criticised state government for this anti farmers behaviour and demanded immediate withdrawal of selling old stock of Tur from government agencies and announced the initiative for Tur growers in the region.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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