Jagan: Fertiliser delays, low crop prices pushing Andhra farmers into distress

Amaravati: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has criticised Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for the alleged deteriorating condition of Andhra Pradesh’s farming community.

He accused the ruling government of failing to ensure a timely fertiliser supply and fair crop prices, leaving farmers in financial distress.

‘Farmers struggling due to fertiliser shortages’

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), YS Jagan highlighted the ongoing crisis in fertiliser distribution. Farmers have been forced to queue for days to secure urea, a situation he described as unimaginable during his tenure.

“Two years into the current government’s term, the agricultural community is facing acute shortages of essential fertilisers, plunging rural families into despair,” he said.

He added that the Chandrababu Naidu administration’s promises of ‘guarantee for the future’ have not translated into action, leaving farmers, the backbone of the state, grappling with basic necessities.

Alleged mismanagement and black-market exploitation

Jagan alleged that ruling party leaders are diverting subsidised fertilisers to private traders, who sell them at inflated prices of Rs 267 per bag, with black-market premiums reaching Rs 200.

Distribution through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) has been inadequate, contrasting sharply with his government’s record of supplying 12 lakh tonnes of fertiliser at subsidised rates and providing urea at Rs 50 below market price.

“The government’s inaction is not just negligence; it is a betrayal of every farmer trying to secure their livelihood,” Jagan said.

Crop prices plunge, financial crisis deepens

The former CM also pointed to the collapse of crop prices. Paddy, chillies, cotton, jowar, pulses, sugarcane, cocoa, bananas, and other crops are fetching drastically low rates.

Onion farmers now earn Rs 400-500 per quintal, while retail prices exceed Rs 35 per kg. Sugarcane prices have dropped to Rs 6,000-12,000 per tonne, compared to Rs 30,000-1 lakh per tonne during his tenure.

“Even during the Covid-19 crisis, our administration procured surplus sugarcane and arranged special trains to support farmers,” he said. “Today, farmers face financial ruin and distress, yet the government remains unmoved.”

Demand for immediate government intervention

YS Jagan called for urgent steps to restore fertiliser supply, enforce strict action against black-market profiteering, ensure fair crop prices, and revive welfare schemes.

He criticised the scrapping of the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, which promised Rs 20,000 annual aid but currently delivers only Rs 5,000, leaving seven lakh families without support.