YSRCP leader MVS Nagi Reddy. | Photo credit: File Photo
The YSRCP accused the NDA government of neglecting farmers’ issues and making false statements in the assembly.
Speaking to the media at the party headquarters in Tadepalli on Sunday, YSRCP (agriculture and farmer welfare) general secretary MVS Nagi Reddy claimed that the government has failed to ensure remunerative prices to farmers, especially chickpea (Bengal gram) growers.
Mr. Nagi Reddy said the government was insensitive to the plight of chickpea farmers as prices fell sharply due to reduced import duties. While the minimum support price (MSP) for chickpeas has been announced at ₹5,800 per quintal, farmers would still incur losses without the additional bonus of ₹1,000. The state government has failed to put pressure on the Center to restore higher import duties, he said.
According to him, in this Rabi season, chickpeas were cultivated in around 3.72 million hectares, with the production expected to exceed seven million tonnes. However, buying is yet to begin and farmers are said to have been selling at significantly lower prices in markets such as Kurnool and Adoni, where rates have fallen to around ₹ 5,089 and ₹ 4,939 per quintal.
He raised concerns about maize farmers and said that maize cultivation this season covered more than 4.37 lakh hectares, mostly in Rayalaseema. Despite an MSP of ₹2,400 per metric quintal last Kharif season, farmers reportedly sold maize at around ₹1,400.
Criticizing the delay in completing the e-crop registration process, the YSRCP leader said the procurement of the central allocation of 94,500 tonnes at ₹8,775 per quintal has not started. He claimed that government inaction is forcing farmers to sell produce below MSP.
The YSRCP leader accused the agriculture minister of making a misleading statement in the assembly regarding free electricity supply and agriculture contracts. He claimed that free energy for horticultural crops and nurseries was introduced during the previous regime and that agricultural energy supplies were streamlined for daytime.
“Instead of making grandiose statements in the assembly, the government needs to act on the ground,” said Mr. Nagi Reddy, urging immediate steps to secure additional purchase approvals from the Center and save farmers from financial distress.
Published – 01 March 2026 20:39 IST
