Marketing and Irrigation Minister, T Harish Rao, have written for the Center, seeking its involvement and support in the crisis, faced by the State’s chilli farmers.

The letter was addressed to Union Agriculture Minister, Radhamohan Singh. The Minister, Harish Rao, highlighted the need to stabilize prices of chillies in the State.

With the output leading to about 14% during the current year, it has resulted in adverse drop in prices, dripping down to Rs 5000-6000 per quintal, as against Rs 10,000 per quintal, the last year.

A committee of officials, has recommended, the procurement of chillies at Rs 7,000 per quintal, directly from farmers.

The Telangana Minister, urged Radhamohan Singh, to help the chilli farmers in the State, by providing 50% central assistance, to the Telangana State under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). This would help the chilly farmers get reasonable income.

“Against the total chilli production of 698353 Metric Tonnes (MT) this year, 10% of the production, is proposed under the Market Intervention Scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs 502.59 crores, the letter stated.

Telangana Agriculture Minister, Pocharam Srinivasa Rao, said, he spoke to the Union Agriculture Minister to get the supply purchased through, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited.

Earlier, last week, many farmers, upset over not getting a remunerative price, held a protest, at the Enumamula agriculture market in Warangal, while some of them literally, burnt some quantity of chilli.

Meanwhile, both the Congress and BJP have thrashed the Telangana Government, for clumsy handling of the chilli farmer’s issue.

The State Congress alleged that, the TRS Government was in deep sleep, to the woes of the chilli farmers. It has also called for protests today, in the headquarters of Assembly constituencies.

Telangana Congress president and MLA N Uttam Kumar Reddy, asked the party cadre to submit memorandum to Tahsildars, today, to make the state government act on the issue.

Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said, that the state government should be more responsible for the issue.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the majority of people in the State, and cultivation of chilly as the commercial crop involves a lot of hard work and investments.

By Supraja