Jagan warns of agitation if NDA government in Andhra Pradesh fails to support tobacco farmers
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has warned of launching an agitation if the NDA government fails to support tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing the media after interacting with the farmers at the Tobacco Board office at Podili in Prakasam district on Wednesday, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded that the government involve the Markfed (Marketing Federation) in the auction process to ensure a fair price to the farmers.
'Govt. fails to ensure MSP'
'The tobacco prices have drastically fallen, and with no help coming from the State government, two farmers, one in Paruchuru and the other in Kondapi, have committed suicide,' the former Chief Minister said.
'The government, which has given permission to increase the extent of cultivation by 20%, has miserably failed to provide minimum support price (MSP). In one year, the tobacco farmers have been pushed into uncertainty. Earlier, they were getting all subsidies, inputs and marketing facilities on time. The difference is tangible,' Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said.
'When the YSRCP was in power, tobacco was sold at ₹360 per kg. Now, the price has fallen to ₹240 per kg for the graded variety. As the NDA government has given its nod to increase the crop extent, it is supposed to procure 220 million tonnes. But, it has so far procured 40 million tonnes,' he said.
As the farmers were in distress, the government should bring in the Markfed to ensure a per-kg price of at least ₹280, he said, and warned of an agitation if the government failed to rise to the occasion.
'Farmers are not getting the MSP for any crop in the State. Paddy has been procured at ₹300 lesser than the MSP. Farmers in West Godavari have said the price of cocoa has dropped from ₹1,050 per kg to ₹380 per kg. Similarly, palm oil price has fallen from ₹23,365 per tonne to ₹18,660 per tonne,' he said.
Farmer suicides
'This shows the apathy of the government towards agriculture. During the YSRCP term, annual financial assistance was provided to the farmer families in the sowing season under the Rythu Bharosa scheme. Presently, the Central government has come up with such a scheme, but the State government's share has not been announced till date,' Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said.
'Owing to the closure of the RBK centres, the farmers are unable to get quality seed, and e-cropping and marketing services. During the TDP's previous term, there were over 600 farmer suicides, and relief did not reach their families. It was only after the YSRCP government assumed office that they received compensation,' he said.
'Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has promised MSP to the chilli farmers, which they are yet to receive. He has never kept his promise to the farmers of millets, horticulture, cotton and turmeric. None of them has received the MSP in the last one year,' the YSRCP president alleged.
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