Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a deepening agricultural crisis, with onion and tomato farmers facing severe financial hardship due to a drastic fall in crop prices. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has sharply criticized the TDP-led NDA government, accusing them of blatant neglect towards the farming community.
In a recent social media post, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy lambasted Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, stating, “The records which Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has set in pushing crop prices to rock-bottom levels cannot be matched by anyone.”
Highlighting the grim reality on the ground, Jagan Mohan Reddy pointed out, “In Kurnool, onions are being sold for a meager ₹3 per kilogram, and tomatoes for an even lower ₹1.50 per kilogram. Are these prices adequate for farmers to sustain themselves? Don’t farmers deserve a livelihood?”
He further alleged that despite the evident struggles of these hardworking farmers, the Chief Minister has displayed a shocking lack of empathy. “A government that fails to come to the aid of its distressed farmers is, in essence, no government at all,” he asserted.
Jagan also dismissed the government’s announced procurement price of ₹1,200 per quintal for onions as a mere “eyewash.” He claimed that token auctions conducted in Kurnool markets do little to address the widespread problem, leaving most farmers without proper support.
Drawing attention to a significant disparity, he questioned, “When farm-gate prices are collapsing so dramatically, how is it that online retailers like BigBasket are selling onions for ₹29 to ₹32 per kilogram, and even government-run rythu bazaars aren’t selling below ₹25 per kilogram? Why are farmers uniquely denied a fair price for their produce? This is nothing short of deliberate neglect.”
The YSRCP chief concluded by emphasizing the plight of tomato cultivators, who are reportedly forced to discard their harvests on the roads due to a complete absence of buyers. He urged the government to intervene immediately and provide much-needed relief.