Focus positively on expanding aid to tobacco, aquaculture, says Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu

Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu. | Photo credit: File Photo

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said on Wednesday that the Center has responded positively to the state government’s proposals to address the problems faced by farmers in tobacco and aquaculture.

He expressed confidence that announcements would soon be made to reduce GST on unmanufactured tobacco and extend financial assistance to tobacco farmers.

Addressing a press conference at the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri, Mr. Atchannaidu said he had met Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajiv Ranjan Singh in New Delhi on the instructions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He said the state sought a reduction in GST on raw tobacco and financial assistance of ₹15 per kg to farmers from the Tobacco Board’s cess fund.

“The Center has also responded favorably to proposals aimed at reducing the cost of aquaculture feed by retaining more fishmeal and fish oil produced domestically for local use,” he said.

Mr Atchannaidu said the government had been pressing the big tobacco companies to procure the entire crop from farmers, and claimed the companies had agreed.

Mr. Atchannaidu launched a political attack, accusing YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of exploiting the issues of tobacco farmers and aquaculture for political opinion. He alleged that the recent interactions organized by the YSRCP leader largely involved party workers rather than actual farmers and urged people not to be fooled by political campaigns.

Published – 22 Jul 2026 21:27 IST