Farmers are still an agitating lot in Andhra Pradesh. Notwithstanding the farmer-centric schemes being introduced by the state government, there is unrest is villages. The mood is such that the state government has been advised caution and vigilance by intelligence officers.

?The farmers are restless and the mood now is to fight it out. Any small trigger is sufficient, they may explode,? intelligence sources say, adding the issues should be settled instantaneously without allowing it to spread to other areas.

Since it came to power in 2004, the ruling Congress party has launched a number of farmer-friendly schemes, including free power, loans at 3% interest rates and a band of subsidies for various agriculture-related activities such as dairy, poultry, fishery etc. However, the farmer community has still been on an offensive, staging demonstrations over various demands.

On June 13, farmers in different parts of Andhra Pradesh took to the streets to protest the shortage of fertilisers and seeds, but the state government maintained there was no shortage of these agricultural commodities. Farmers blocked roads, laid siege to government offices and held demonstrations in some districts and demanded that the government take immediate steps to address the problem.

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, while claiming that there was absolutely no shortage of fertiliser, warned that the government would take stringent action against dealers creating artificial shortage, hoarding or blackmarketing.

?Now farmers in the state have learnt how to protest. They now say that they can get help and need not commit suicide. It is, in a way, a welcoming phenomenon,? commented a senior official.

He added that this was precisely the welcome change the Reddy government had brought in?self confidence and courage among farmers.

But that?s all on surface. In reality, the chief minister is a worried person. He fears in case of any trouble it would be difficult to move administrative machinery at such a hurried pace, sources say. Any delay on part of the government will help the opposition to drag the issue to the streets, they add. That?s the reason the state government has off late been taking swift measures to ease troubles. Reddy himself is reviewing any such situation instantly and giving orders to the district administration on the spot.

Cases in point were the chilli market yard fire in Guntur and the farmers? agitation in Armoor for payment from seed dealers. In both the occasions, the state government became proactive and administration brass like chief secretary, DGP etc were pressed into service, helping coordination from the neighbouring districts.

Officials say the trigger point now could be the delay in implementing the farm loan wavier scheme. By all means, the list of beneficiaries should be published before June 30. However, banks are still struggling to prepare a provisional list, which again has to be certified by the bank?s auditors. According to bank sources, the list may be delayed at least by a week or so, since corrections are not allowed once it is released to public.

Further, the state government has also announced incentives for farmers who have promptly paying their loans. Moreover, as per the state government statement, about 22 lakh farmers, who have promptly paid their agriculture loans will receive an incentive of Rs 5,000 each.