0 months ago
Jagan urges Andhra government to deploy MARKFED for tobacco procurement
In a part of India called Andhra Pradesh, some farmers grow a plant called tobacco.
A political leader named Jagan Mohan Reddy came to meet them.
The farmers told him they are losing money on their tobacco crop.
Prices have gone down, growing the crop costs more, and buyers are working together to keep prices low.
Mr. Jagan asked the state government to start buying tobacco directly, so farmers can be paid fairly.
He said farmers used to earn more money when his party was in charge.
He says the current government promised to buy the crop but is buying very little of it.
Mr. Jagan also complained that his security guards were removed during his visit.
The ruling party has not yet said anything about these complaints.
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy urged the Andhra Pradesh government to deploy MARKFED to procure tobacco after meeting farmers in Devarapalli village, East Godavari district.
Jagan alleged that falling prices, rising cultivation costs and trader cartelisation were causing tobacco farmers losses of at least Rs 70 per kg.
He claimed the average tobacco price fell from Rs 289 per kg under the YSRCP government (2019-2024) to about Rs 220 per kg under the NDA coalition, with some farmers selling at Rs 170 per kg.
He alleged only about 20 per cent of the crop was being procured despite Tobacco Board assurances, and that the announced Rs 20 subsidy would benefit traders rather than farmers.
Jagan's party alleged police personnel for his Z+ security were withdrawn during the Devarapalli visit and demanded state Home Minister V Anitha's resignation; the ruling TDP gave no immediate reaction.
- Who
- Jagan Mohan Reddy, chief of the opposition YSRCP, speaking after meeting tobacco farmers; he also targeted state Home Minister V Anitha over alleged security lapses.
- What
- He urged the Andhra Pradesh government to deploy MARKFED to procure tobacco, alleging falling prices, trader cartelisation and farmer losses, and complained of inadequate security during his visit.
- Where
- Devarapalli village, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5.
- Why
- To press the government to ensure remunerative prices for tobacco farmers who he said are incurring heavy losses.
Jagan Mohan Reddy / YSRCP
TDP-led Government (no response reported)
Tobacco prices and procurement
Jagan Mohan Reddy / YSRCP
Jagan alleges average tobacco prices fell from Rs 289 per kg during the YSRCP government (2019-2024) to around Rs 220 per kg under the NDA coalition, with some farmers forced to sell at Rs 170 per kg and only about 20 per cent of the crop being procured despite Tobacco Board assurances of procurement.
TDP-led Government (no response reported)
The report states there was no immediate reaction from the ruling TDP, and no government rebuttal of the pricing and procurement figures is included in the article.
MARKFED intervention
Jagan Mohan Reddy / YSRCP
Jagan demands the state government deploy MARKFED to buy tobacco, saying its earlier introduction as a buyer promoted competition and remunerative prices; he claims the current government discontinued it along with interest-free crop loans of up to Rs 1 lakh, and that the announced Rs 20 subsidy would benefit traders, not farmers.
TDP-led Government (no response reported)
The government has not commented on the demand; no government view on MARKFED procurement or the subsidy is reported in the article.
Security during the visit
Jagan Mohan Reddy / YSRCP
Jagan's party alleges police personnel deployed for his security were deliberately withdrawn during the Devarapalli visit despite his Z+ security cover, and says it will lodge a complaint with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and demand state Home Minister V Anitha's resignation.
TDP-led Government (no response reported)
No response from the government or the Home Minister is reported in the article.
Key facts
- Political leader
- Jagan Mohan Reddy, YSRCP chief and former chief minister
- Location
- Devarapalli, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh
- Demand
- Deploy MARKFED to procure tobacco
- Average price under YSRCP (2019-2024)
- Rs 289 per kg
- Average price under NDA coalition
- About Rs 220 per kg
- Lowest reported sale price
- Rs 170 per kg
- Farmer losses alleged
- At least Rs 70 per kg
- Crop procured
- Only about 20 per cent
Quotes
Jagan Mohan Reddy
Chief of the YSR Congress Party
“"The Andhra Pradesh government should deploy MARKFED to procure tobacco as farmers are suffering heavy losses due to falling prices, rising cultivation costs and trader cartelisation."”
theprint.in
Sources
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