3 weeks ago
Jagan Slams Coalition Government Over Tobacco Farmers' Crisis
Tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh are having a very hard time.
They grow tobacco, but the money they get for it has gone down.
At the same time, the cost of growing the crop has gone up.
A leader named YS Jagan Mohan Reddy went to meet these farmers.
He said the government is not helping them enough.
He warned that buyers may move to the neighbouring state of Karnataka, which would make prices even lower.
He asked the government to join the market itself so farmers get fair prices.
He said prices were higher when he was in charge of the state.
The situation has also brought great sadness, as a local farmer took his own life.
Many people are worried about what will happen to the farming families.
YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy attacked the coalition government for apathy toward tobacco growers facing high input costs and falling prices.
He warned that buyers shifting auctions to Karnataka within a month would push Andhra Pradesh tobacco prices down further.
Jagan alleged the Chandrababu Naidu government is 'hand in glove' with trader syndicates, with barely 20% of the crop procured so far.
He compared average prices of Rs 289 per kg in 2023-24 under his rule to about Rs 220 per kg now, with some sales as low as Rs 170 per kg.
Jagan demanded MARKFED enter the market directly to break syndicates, citing a farmer's suicide and the scrapped zero-interest loan scheme.
- Who
- YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, former Chief Minister and YSRCP chief, who met tobacco farmers at Devarapalli in Andhra Pradesh.
- What
- Accused the coalition government of total apathy toward tobacco growers amid falling prices and called for direct market intervention.
- Where
- Devarapalli auction platform in Andhra Pradesh; buyers are expected to shift auctions to Karnataka.
- When
- Wednesday.
- Why
- Farmers face severe distress from skyrocketing input costs and falling procurement prices allegedly driven by corporate cartelisation.
Opposition (YSRCP) View
State Government Position and Actions
Subsidy relief
Opposition (YSRCP) View
The Rs 20 subsidy is a gimmick that would only push traders to lower their bidding prices further.
State Government Position and Actions
The coalition government announced an Rs 20 subsidy as financial relief for tobacco farmers.
Procurement and trader syndicates
Opposition (YSRCP) View
The government is 'hand in glove' with trader syndicates, and barely 20% of the produce has been procured so far.
State Government Position and Actions
The Tobacco Board gave assurances encouraging farmers to cultivate the crop, indicating official confidence in the market.
Market intervention
Opposition (YSRCP) View
The government should deploy MARKFED to bid directly, break trader syndicates and ensure fair remunerative prices.
State Government Position and Actions
The state has not deployed MARKFED in the tobacco auctions, leaving bidding to primary buyers and traders.
Key facts
- Former Chief Minister
- YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
- Government criticised
- Coalition government led by Chandrababu Naidu
- Event location
- Devarapalli auction platform, Andhra Pradesh
- Average tobacco price 2023-24
- Rs 289 per kg
- Current average price
- Rs 220 per kg
- Lowest reported sale price
- Rs 170 per kg
- Produce procured so far
- Barely 20%
- Subsidy announced by government
- Rs 20 (dismissed by Jagan as a gimmick)
Quotes
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP chief
“The Chandrababu Naidu government is hand in glove with trader syndicates”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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