Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader D. Sitakka welcomed the Centre’s announcement of minimum support price for chilli, and demanded the State government to implement the same with retrospective effect from March 2.
Ms. Sitakka said the farmers demanded a payment of ₹8,000 per quintal plus ₹2,000 handling charges. As most the farmers have already disposed of their stock, the traders would benefit from the Centre’s decision now, she pointed out. The government should implement the decision from March 2 extending the benefit to those who have already sold their produce.
She criticised the State government for failing to handle the issue properly and for not coming up with the market intervention fund as was promised. “The Chief Minister and his Ministers are engaged in bragging about their rule while driving farmers to desperation,” she said.
