In a crucial meeting at the Secretariat, leaders from the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham and the Tenant Farmers’ Association presented a detailed memorandum to Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture, Marketing, and Cooperation) B. Rajasekhar. Their plea was for prompt and decisive government action on several critical issues currently plaguing the state’s agricultural sector.
One of the most pressing concerns highlighted was the plight of maize farmers. With harvesting underway in Nandyal, Bapatla, Palnadu, and Guntur districts, farmers are being forced into distress sales, receiving a meager ₹1,600 to ₹1,800 per quintal—significantly below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,400. The associations urged the immediate establishment of procurement centers to ensure fair prices for their produce.
Cotton farmers are facing similar struggles. Despite an MSP of ₹8,110 per quintal, traders in key markets like Adoni and Emmiganur are exploiting the situation by offering only ₹4,000 to ₹6,500. The delegation called for urgent intervention from the Cotton Corporation of India, emphasizing the need for procurement without the imposition of overly stringent moisture content regulations that further disadvantage farmers.
The memorandum also addressed the severe difficulties faced by Bengal gram cultivators, who are grappling with exorbitant storage costs. They demanded that the government procure their pulses at a fair price of ₹10,000 per quintal. Furthermore, the delegation brought attention to the unfulfilled promises for mango growers in Chittoor, who are still awaiting the full ₹8 per kg announced by the government, and the crippling losses suffered by onion and tomato farmers due to drastic price collapses.
A significant point of contention was the discontinuation of free crop insurance. The farmer leaders passionately appealed for its immediate reinstatement, stressing that without this vital safety net, a vast number of farmers are unable to afford premiums and remain dangerously exposed to the devastating financial impacts of natural calamities.
The delegation’s message was clear: swift and comprehensive government action is imperative to protect the livelihoods of countless farmers across Andhra Pradesh, who are currently teetering on the brink of financial ruin.