In the meeting, he asked various stakeholders about their problems and opinions. Minister for agriculture K. Atchannaidu, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand and others were present.
Vijayawada: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that the government's main objective is to help chilli farmers who are facing difficulties due to falling prices. The CM held a review meeting with chilli farmers, traders, officials and exporters at the secretariat.
In the meeting, he asked various stakeholders about their problems and opinions. Minister for agriculture K. Atchannaidu, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand and others were present.
Chandrababu affirmed that his goal is to support chilli farmers in any circumstances. He recalled that as soon as he came to know that farmers were facing difficulties due to the fall in chilli prices, he wrote a letter to the Center on December 26, February 5 and 11.
The farmers brought to the attention of the Chief Minister that the investment in chilli cultivation is increasing day by day and they are not recovering the inputs costs. Farmers said that the quality of the crop is decreasing and so is the yield due to the black lotus disease in chilli. They explained that the per acre cost is Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh. They deplored that labour costs have increased more than ever this time but labourers are not available.
The exporters explained that 60 per cent of the chilli grown in the state is exported abroad, and out of 410 major exporters who supply to various countries, only 250 are currently active. It was explained that chilli containers are not being allowed through the Krishnapatnam container terminal, due to which the transport has been increased by going to the Madras port.
Chandrababu ordered the authorities to take strict action against the lorry owners who charge high rent from farmers. He ordered installing electronic scales in chilli yards and bankers to provide loans based on bonds to the farmers who have stored the stocks in cold storage.
Chandrababu instructed officers to provide basic facilities in the Spice Park in Guntur as well. He said, “The authorities should also give appropriate instructions on the precautions to be taken by the farmers while drying chilli in the fields. Scientists and officials should meet farmers at the field level and give advice on reducing chemicals and reducing investment costs. Soil tests, which were stopped by the previous government, should be reintroduced so that farmers can know which crops they can cultivate depending on the nature of the soil.”
Regarding chilli prices, Naidu said, “There are proposals that the Centre should come forward to purchase chillies under the market intervention scheme if the price of a quintal is less than Rs 11,781. The Center has agreed to this. If the Centre bears 50 per cent of this, the state government will have to bear the rest. However, if this policy is implemented, farmers and traders from neighbouring states will sell the crop to AP, and thus justice will not be done to AP farmers. I will once again contact the Center on this.”
Chandrababu assured that he would immediately talk to the Krishnapatnam port management and officials and take steps for the transport of chilli containers. He said they will consider the issue of helping farmers based on the details of the farmers registered in e-Crop. Since mango and chilli are mostly cultivated in the state, the CM said that they will soon discuss the formation of a board.
