In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, former minister Harish Rao has called for the immediate fulfillment of promises made to farmers. Urging the CM to visit paddy procurement centres, he questioned why purchases had not commenced, even with considerable paddy piling up.
Congress Farmer Declaration Criticized
Rao slammed the Congress party's farmer declaration as insincere, asserting that commitments made during the elections have not been honoured after assuming power. He insisted that the promised bonus of 500 per quintal for fine rice should be paid immediately, alongside paddy payments.
Sunflower and Chickpea Farmers in Distress
He also raised concerns about sunflower farmers, who he said have been waiting at procurement centres for 20 days without resolution. "The central government has only bought a quarter of the sunflower crop. The state government must step up and purchase the remaining 1.20 lakh quintals without conditions," Rao stated. He added that Congress policies have become a burden for chickpea farmers, halting purchases at centres entirely. With a support price of 5,875 for chickpeas, farmers are forced to sell to private traders for only 3,000-4,000 due to inaction.
Sorghum and Maize Farmers Neglected
Rao questioned when sorghum procurement centres would be established, noting that given the minimum support price of 3,371, farmers are selling to private buyers for just 2,500, leading to substantial losses. He asked, "Is it really necessary to discriminate against hardworking maize farmers?"
The former minister's letter highlights the urgent need for the state government to address the grievances of farmers across multiple crops, including paddy, sunflower, chickpea, sorghum, and maize.
