Telangana Rythu Sangam seeks 15k MSP for chillies

​Khammam: General secretary of the Telangana Rythu Sangam Nunna Nageshwar Rao demanded the government to purchase chillies by fixing Rs 15,000 per quintal through Nafed and Markfed, here in Khammam on Wednesday.

He said the cost of the dry chillies which was Rs 13,000 per quintal in the beginning of the season had fallen to Rs 8,500 much to the worries of farmers.

“By forming syndicate, many traders are looting innocent farmers by purchasing the produce for low cost. Instead of taking proper measures by fixing Minimum Support Price, the government is turning a blind eye, and encouraging private traders,” he alleged.

“The land under cultivation of chilli crops had been decreased enormously this season in the district. Moreover, the crop which is grown has dried in some areas due to lack of sufficient amount of water,” he pointed.

“The cost of the chillies must increase when compared to beginning of the season, instead it decreased because of traders who formed syndicate and brought down the price to deceive innocent farmers,” he alleged.

“Farmers who have grown the crop by investing Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh per acre are worried for the loss incurred and are in dire straits,” he observed.

“The ruling party leaders and the government are responsible for this situation,” he alleged.
He demanded the government to purchase chillies through Markfed and Nafed by fixing MSP to help the farmers.