Jagan Announces Visit to Meet Distressed Tobacco Farmers
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that he will visit the erstwhile West Godavari district within the next 10 days to personally understand the problems faced by tobacco farmers suffering due to the sharp fall in tobacco prices.
Speaking at a meeting with farmers in Tadepalli, Jagan said he would visit either Gopalapuram or Jangareddygudem to interact directly with farmers and intensify pressure on the state government to address their concerns.
Only 16.5% of Tobacco Crop Purchased in 94 Days
Jagan alleged that despite 94 days passing since the tobacco auctions began, only 16.5% of the crop has been procured.
According to him:
- Around 232 million kilograms of tobacco were produced in Andhra Pradesh this season.
- However, only 38 million kilograms have been purchased so far.
He further claimed that tobacco prices witnessed a steep decline immediately after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that prices should not fall below ₹200 per kilogram.
Farmers Forced to Sell at Low Prices
Highlighting the current market situation, Jagan said tobacco prices have dropped significantly:
- ₹130 per kg in Gopalapuram
- ₹170 per kg in Jangareddygudem
He accused traders of forming a syndicate to artificially suppress prices while alleging that the state government has remained a silent spectator.
Jagan also claimed that not a single case has been registered against companies violating procurement rules.
Demand to Bring MARKFED Into Procurement
The former Chief Minister demanded that MARKFED be brought into the procurement process to assure farmers that the government is standing by them.
He recalled that during the YSRCP government:
- ₹3,000 crore was allocated to the Market Intervention Fund.
- Around ₹7,800 crore was spent on crop procurement to support farmers.
According to Jagan, similar intervention is necessary now to protect tobacco growers from financial distress.
Warns of Statewide Farmers’ Agitation
Jagan warned that if the government fails to respond to the farmers’ demands, he will undertake another tour in Kandukur and expand the movement across Andhra Pradesh.
He asserted that the YSRCP would continue its struggle until justice is delivered to tobacco farmers.
“The YSRCP’s fight will not stop until justice is done to every farmer,” Jagan declared.
