Former Officer IPS AB Venkateswara Rao and others at a meeting organized by the Association of Farmers in Elur in Elur on Friday
The Association of Agricultural Farmers Andhra Pradesh demanded the creation of the State Cocoa Council and expressed a strong protest against a sharp decline in cocoa beans prices from 500 to 350 GBP for kg private companies.
At the meeting of the State Committee held in Anne Bhavan in Elur, under the leadership of State President Boll Ramakrishna, members discussed the urgent challenges facing cocoa growers and adopted several resolutions.
The IPS retirement officer AB Venkateswara Rao, the Honorary President of the Association, dealt with the assembly as a main guest. He announced that preparations for the creation of farmers’ producers (FPOs) involving cocoa farmers in the state of over 10,000 acres. District directors are appointed, this process is facilitated by NABARD. After August 25 at Vijayarai in Pedavegi Mandal, a conference on state level of cocoa FPO will take place, he added.
Mr. Venkateswara Rao urged cocoa to become part of the FPO, and emphasized the potential of cocoa as crops generating wealth for Andhra Pradesh. He emphasized the need for the State Cocoa Council on the Lines of the Coconut Council to ensure the interests of farmers.
The General Secretary of the State K. Srinivas expressed concern about the persistent decline in cocoa prices, although the state government previously set a rate of 500 GBP per kg. He called for companies arbitrarily, and called on both trade unions and state governments to intervene, ban foreign imports of cocoa beans and to provide fair international prizes for domestic production. He said that the association would present petitions to district collectors and gardening officials in all districts and organize protests and urge farmers to actively participate in agitation.
Other important participants included state President Simhadri Gopalakrishn, vice -president of Mr. Achyutaramaiaha, assistants of the Koppisetti Paladugula Zarasimharao, Satish Babu, Yelishetta Paparao Babja, Yalamati VishweshWaoo, T. Someraju.
Published – August 8, 2025 20:45
