CPI(M) urges govt. to open maize procurement centres in Andhra Pradesh
CPI(M) urged Andhra Pradesh government to start maize procurement centres as farmers face heavy losses due to low market prices below MSP. Rising costs, poor prices, and delayed procurement have worsened distress among farmers cultivating maize across 11 lakh acres.
The CPI(M) has urged the State government to immediately launch maize procurement centres to prevent losses to farmers amid falling market prices.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, party State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said farmers across the State cultivated maize in over 11 lakh acres this season. He said the shift to maize cultivation increased after farmers incurred losses in crops such as tobacco, cotton, and chilli in the previous seasons.
The cost of cultivating maize per acre was around ₹40,000, with an expected yield of about 30 quintals. However, despite the Centre announcing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,400 per quintal, farmers were being forced to sell the produce at rates ranging between ₹1,400 and ₹1,800 due to the absence of procurement centres, he said.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao pointed out that adverse weather conditions, including unseasonal rains and increased input costs, further burdened the farmers. As a result, they were reportedly incurring losses of ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per acre.
The delay in initiating procurement was causing immense loss to the farmers, he said, adding that though the government had written to the Centre seeking approval, there was no response so far.
In the interim, the CPI(M) leader appealed to the State government to begin procurement through MARKFED without waiting for central approval.
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Source : The Hindu
