CM Chandrababu directed the officials to take strict action against the lorry owners who charge more rent from chilli farmers. He instructed the officials to set up electronic weighing machines in the mirchi yard

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday held a meeting at the Secretariat on the issues of mirchi farmers in AP. The CM held discussions with farmers and exporters on mirchi prices. In the wake of increasing exports of mirchi to China, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries, the CM instructed the officials to explore ways and means to get the right price for the mirchi crop. He also got to know the details of mirchi stocks in Guntur market yard. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand, Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu  Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Budithi Rajasekhar and officials of marketing department.

The farmers brought to the notice of the CM that the investment in mirchi cultivation is increasing year after year and they are not getting any income at the increased level of investment. The farmers said that the quality of the crop is decreasing and the yield is decreasing due to the black lotus pest, especially for mirchis.” It costs between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh per acre.

The labour costs have gone up a lot. The farmers would be benefited if the bonus is announced as a lumpsum amount per quintal” many of the farmers expressed. The exporters explained that most of the chilli exports from AP are exported to China, Colombo, Bangladesh and Indonesia. They brought to his notice that, due to the decline in exports to the respective countries, the price of chillies in the state has come down to some extent.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Chandrababu directed the officials to take strict action against the lorry owners who charge more rent from chilli farmers. He instructed the officials to set up electronic weighing machines in the mirchi yard. He also instructed the officials to provide basic amenities at the Spice Park in Guntur. “If the price of mirchi is less than Rs 11,781 per quintal, a proposal has been put in place for the Centre to come forward to buy it under the market intervention scheme.

The Centre has agreed to this .Of this, 50 per cent will be borne by the Centre and 50 per cent by the state government .Even now, we have taken steps to overcome the difficulties of the farmers keeping in mind the difficulties of the farmers” the CM said. He also said that based on the details of the farmers registered in the e-crop and the details recorded in the record of selling the crop in the yard, the issue of helping the farmers would be considered. He said clearly that every rupee spent on farmers should belong to the farmers and not to the middlemen. He also assured that formation of mango and mirchi boards will also be discussed soon as there is a large cultivation of those two crops in the state.