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Congress demands govt balm for chilli burn
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday demanded that the State government procure Chillies at the rate of Rs. 12,000 a quintal to bail out over one lakh farmers.
TPCC President N Uttam Kumar Reddy warns the government of agitation if it fails to bail out farmers from distress
Suryapet: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday demanded that the State government procure Chillies at the rate of Rs. 12,000 a quintal to bail out over one lakh farmers.
Speaking to media persons after visiting the farmers in distress at Medicheruvu mandal in Suryapet district on Saturday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the chilli farmers were facing crisis as the price for the produce tumbled. He took the State government to task for completely ignoring the plight of chilli farmers. The officials did not intervene to secure minimum support price for the produce.
He pointed out that the State government, through the Department of Agricultural Economics, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, had issued a forecast stating that the chilli price would be around Rs. 11000-11400 a quintal at the time of harvesting during February-March. This encouraged more than one lakh farmers to cultivate chilli instead of cotton expecting high prices.
As against 70,000 acres, this year the chilli was cultivated in nearly 2 lakh acres. However, the prices are now hovering around Rs 5,000 a quintal causing huge loss to the farmers. In some cases, he said the traders have been buying the chilli at less as Rs 4500-5000 a quintal.
The TPCC chief said that TRS government in the State and BJP-led NDA government at the Centre were anti-farmer. He said that both the governments paid no attention to the problems being faced by the farmers. He said that the farmers were not getting proper MSP for their produce and no arrangements have been made to ensure procurement of all agricultural products.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the State government was unwilling to wake up from its slumber despite hundreds of farmers resorting to protest at various places. He said two days ago, chilli farmers had burnt chillies in front of Enumamula, Kothagudem and Khammam chilli market yards as a mark of protest for not getting proper price. He said thousands of farmers were being put to hardship as market officials were refusing to buy chilli citing sufficient stock in cold storages.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress party would launch a mass agitation to get proper MSP for chilli farmers. The party would organise agitation in all Assembly constituencies on April 3.
