Atchannaidu challenges Jagan to open debate on tobacco farmers

Farmers in Andhra Pradesh grow tobacco, and there is a big argument about who helped them more.

The person in charge of farming for the state government, Mr. Atchannaidu, wants to have a public talk with a former leader named Mr. Jagan.

Mr. Atchannaidu says his government bought a lot of tobacco from farmers last year and paid them good money.

He says tobacco prices went up a lot since 2019.

But this year farmers grew much more tobacco than expected, so there is too much tobacco in the market.

To help, the government is giving farmers extra money for the extra tobacco they grew, and the national government is offering loans to farmers who build sheds for drying tobacco.

Mr. Atchannaidu says the old government did not buy enough tobacco or help farmers in difficult times.

He believes farmers will decide which government stood by them.

He is inviting Mr. Jagan to compare the facts in front of everyone.