Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has assured chilli farmers that the government would take all steps to purchase chilli stocks.
The farmers need not be agitated over stocks piled up with them. The government would continue to purchase it till the farmers sold their last bag of chillies.
The government was committed to protect the interests of farmers, he said. Mr. Naidu, who is touring the U.S., reviewed the chilli farmers’ issue over phone on Friday.
Directing the officials to open chilli purchasing centres at Kurnool, Ongole and Chilakaluripet, Mr. Naidu suggested that arrangements be made to purchase chillies on Saturday and Sunday also. In view of shortage of storage facilities at the market yards, necessary arrangements should be made to streamline the flow of chilli stocks to the market yards and purchasing centres. The farmers should not face any sort of inconvenience, he said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, addressing a press conference at the Secretariat on Friday, said that there was no dearth of funds. The government would implement the price support scheme for chilli in Dachepalli, Nandigama, Parchuru and Kurnool. The government has also slashed the holidays in yards from 40 days to 20 days, he said.
The Minister said that the scheme, introduced on April 20, was originally planned to be implemented till June. But, in view of the gravity of the problem, it would be extended up to July if required.
The government calculated that ₹8,000 per quintal was the average price that prevailed during the last few years. Going by it, the price support scheme would cover the produce which secured the price below ₹8,000 per quintal in the market yard.
A maximum of ₹1,500 per quintal would be provided to each farmer or tenant farmer who sells produce at the market yard. A ceiling of 20 quintals per each farmer was also fixed, he said.
Mr. Chandramohan Reddy said it was unfortunate that a farmer in Kurnool committed suicide. The farmers were requested to repose faith in the government, which was taking all necessary steps to purchase chillies.
The Opposition parties should not politicize the issue and instigate the farmers. The media should maintain restraint in reporting so that the farmers would not become anxious, he added.
