Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has stepped in to address the ongoing crisis faced by Mirchi farmers in the state. With market prices plummeting, he has written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging immediate intervention to safeguard farmers from financial distress.
Chandrababu, in his letter, pointed out the dramatic drop in Mirchi prices, which had become a major talking point at a recent meeting in Delhi. He urged the Central Government to take full responsibility for procurement under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) instead of contributing to only 50% of the cost, bearing in mind Andhra Pradesh’s present fiscal restraints.
This year, there was an increase in the production and area under Mirchi. But the prices fell significantly. The advanced quality Mirchi that had fetched ₹20,000 per quintal last year had now reduced to ₹13,000, while that of the regular varieties had dropped to ₹11,000. Chandrababu attributed this crash in prices to a slackening of exports, with farmers now struggling to get back their investments.
To remedy this crisis, Chandrababu pressed for immediate procurement under MIS so that price stabilization and financial relief could occur for farmers. His request to the Central Government for immediate intervention strengthens the appeal due to thousands of farmers who depend on the crop for their daily existence.
