Rescuing chilli farmers government''s primary goal: Andhra CM Naidu

Amaravati: The primary goal of the Andhra Pradesh government is to come to the rescue of chilli farmers in the state who are suffering due to a drop in prices for the crop, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said.

He said this after holding a review meeting with chilli farmers, sellers, exporters, and other stakeholders at the secretariat here.

To rescue farmers "Exporters, businessmen and commission agents have to cooperate," he insisted.

The chief minister has already written to the Centre thrice on this issue, a press release issued on Saturday said.

At the meeting, the farmers apprised Naidu that they were unable to recover the investments made in chilli farming, which is around Rs 3.5 lakh per acre.

They also informed Naidu about labour shortage and its expensive nature, whereas the price commanded for chillies at the market yard in the morning was not holding at the end of the day, adding that businessmen were cutting price by Rs 500 per quintal.

The exporters told the CM that China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia were some of the major import markets which saw tepid demand this year, leading to lower exports and lower prices for farmers.

Sixty per cent of the chillies produced in the state are exported, the exporters said, as they complained that chilli exports are not being allowed from the Krishnapatnam container terminal.

As a result, the exporters are forced to ferry chillies to the Chennai port at an added freight cost, they said, pointing out that the spices park in Guntur lacks basic facilities.

Naidu said the Centre has come forward to buy chillies under a market intervention scheme if the price of a quintal is quoted below Rs 11,781, but noted that this proposition could run the risk of farmers from other states hijacking this arrangement.

Under the market intervention scheme, the Centre will contribute 50 per cent and the state government the remaining 50 per cent.

Stating that a final decision on this proposition will have to be made, Naidu promised that measures will be taken to ensure that chillies and mangoes are exported through the Krishnapatnam port to solve the farmers' issues.