– No Profitable Prices for Crops, Farmers in Distress
– Government Supporting Middlemen and Traders
– ₹1.26 Lakh Crore Debt in Just 9 Months
– Liquor Traders Benefiting While Farmers Suffer
Anantapur District YSRCP President Ananta Venkatarami Reddy has accused the state government of neglecting farmers’ concerns while favoring traders and middlemen. Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP district office, he criticized the ruling coalition for failing to ensure Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops, pushing farmers into financial distress.
Despite multiple crops suffering from price drops, ministers representing the region remain indifferent, he alleged. “The government has not conducted even a single review meeting on the farmers’ situation,” Reddy said, slamming the leadership for prioritizing political blame games over governance.
“The coalition government, after coming to power, has only focused on distributing pensions while cutting off 1.50 lakh beneficiaries,” he added. He questioned the unfulfilled promise of providing pensions to SC, ST, BC, and minority communities at 50 years of age.
Plummeting Crop Prices: A Farmer’s Nightmare
Reddy highlighted how various crops have witnessed severe price drops under the current government:
- Chickpeas: Previously priced at ₹7,800-₹8,000 per quintal, now fallen to ₹5,500.
- Pigeon Peas: Once ₹9,000-₹10,000 per quintal, now reduced to ₹6,300-₹6,400.
- Foxtail Millet: Down from ₹6,000 to ₹2,300 per quintal.
- Maize: Previously sold for ₹6,000-₹8,000, now just ₹2,000 per quintal.
- Groundnuts: Price per 40kg bag reduced from ₹3,600-₹3,800 to ₹2,600.
- Cotton: MSP of ₹7,412 ignored, forcing farmers to sell at ₹5,500.
- Chili: Premium varieties that sold for ₹40,000-₹41,500 per quintal now fetch only ₹7,000-₹9,000.
- Bananas: Prices have dropped from ₹30,000 per ton to ₹23,000.
Despite these alarming trends, the government remains unresponsive, Reddy alleged. “Farmers are rejecting the free nine-hour power supply because groundwater levels are depleting. Fertilizer scams continue unchecked, and vigilance authorities are inactive,” he added.
Negligence in Governance: Leaders Failing to Act
“Are the CM and MLAs blind to the farmers’ struggles?” Reddy asked. He accused elected representatives of prioritizing personal profits over public welfare. “Summer has begun, and drinking water shortages have already hit several regions, yet the government remains unbothered,” he noted.
He warned that if farmers’ issues and unfulfilled election promises are ignored further, protests will follow. He also criticized the inefficiency of the ‘Spandana’ grievance redressal program, claiming that even complaints filed on Mondays are left unresolved.
Liquor Traders Thriving While Farmers Suffer
Reddy further slammed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly deceiving alcohol consumers. “Farmers are not getting fair prices for their crops, but liquor traders are enjoying increased commissions and price hikes,” he said.
He recalled how Naidu, during election campaigns, had promised quality liquor at lower prices but later raised both taxes and commissions. “Is there any other politician in India who has openly told people to drink more? Only Chandrababu Naidu has done that,” he mocked.
Alleging that liquor trade profits were being shared with ministers and MLAs, Reddy claimed, “The government earns ₹30,000 crore annually from liquor sales. The recent 14% margin hike was done to benefit business tycoons in a secret deal.”
Meanwhile, illegal liquor sales from Karnataka into Andhra Pradesh have surged, with belt shops multiplying, he added. “Even a chameleon would be embarrassed by the way Chandrababu keeps changing colors,” he quipped.
YSRCP youth wing district president Sake Chandrasekhar, district general secretary Alamuru Srinivasa Reddy, district secretary Mallela Venu, and JCS district convener Shiva Reddy were also present at the press conference.
