Farmers in Andhra Pradesh Face Severe Distress: Jagan
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Synopsis
YSR Congress Party leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy highlights the distress faced by farmers in Andhra Pradesh, stressing their struggle to receive fair prices and the lack of government support.
Key Takeaways
- Farmers in Andhra Pradesh are experiencing significant distress.
- They are unable to secure fair pricing for their crops.
- The price of mirchi has dropped drastically.
- The government has halted crucial reforms supporting farmers.
- Jagan Mohan Reddy calls for immediate action from the Chief Minister.
Amaravati, Feb 19 (NationPress) YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy stated on Wednesday that farmers in Andhra Pradesh are experiencing significant distress due to their inability to secure fair pricing for their crops.
The former Chief Minister visited the Mirchi Yard in Guntur and engaged with farmers, informing the media that since the rise of the TDP-led coalition government, farmers have been deprived of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and are struggling to find buyers for their produce.
He claimed that no crop is achieving the MSP for farmers. "Regardless of the crop—be it black gram, green gram, tomato, or cotton—farmers are not receiving the MSP," he stated.
Jagan Mohan Reddy urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to visit the Mirchi Yard and take action to assist farmers.
He pointed out that the price of mirchi (chillies) has plummeted from Rs 27,000 to Rs 8,000 per quintal, and the yield per acre has significantly decreased compared to the previous year. Additionally, the cost of inputs has risen, putting tremendous pressure on tenant farmers.
The plight is similar in districts such as Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Kurnool, and Anantapuram, he noted, while accusing the Chandrababu Naidu-led government of exploiting farmers through middlemen.
"Despite this dire situation, there has been no governmental review, and neither the Chief Minister nor the Agriculture Minister appears to care for the farmers, leaving them stranded. The administration has let down the farmers and halted all the progressive reforms initiated by the YSRCP government," he commented.
Jagan Mohan Reddy recalled that during the tenure of YSRCP, the government provided MSP not just for chillies, turmeric, and onions but for 24 crops in total. "If farmers were struggling to obtain MSP, our government ensured they received it, utilizing RBKs as a support system for farmers. We effectively implemented technology to track commodity prices statewide through the CM app. Now, as chilli farmers endure hardships, Chandrababu Naidu remains indifferent," he alleged.
He noted that during the YSRCP administration, when crops faced pest issues, field staff were available to assist and guide farmers. "We established integrated farm labs for quality control, and during our governance, chilli farmers received the highest prices. The current administration has overturned many of our policies, including crop insurance," he added.
The YSRCP leader mentioned that cotton farmers are barely earning Rs 7,000, down from Rs 10,000 during the YSRCP rule. Tomato farmers are also struggling to receive fair prices, and he urged Chandrababu Naidu to intervene and support the farmers at this critical time.
