Jagan Reddy Accuses Naidu Over Farmers’ Onion, Tomato Distress
Andhra CM accused of ignoring farmers' price crash crisis.
YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of abandoning farmers amid a devastating vegetable price crash in Kurnool. Reddy claimed that farmers are being forced to sell onions at a meager Rs 3 per kg and tomatoes at Rs 1.5 per kg, prices so low they threaten their livelihoods.
In a scathing post on X, Reddy charged Naidu with setting "unmatched records in pushing farmers into distress" due to collapsing crop prices. "Are these prices even imaginable? Should farmers not be allowed to survive?" he questioned, highlighting weeks of unaddressed pleas from struggling farmers. He criticized Naidu for failing to act, asking, "What use is a government that does not stand by its people in their toughest times?"
Reddy pointed to unfulfilled promises, noting that Naidu’s government advertised procuring onions at Rs 1,200 per quintal, yet auctions in Kurnool’s market saw no buyers. He contrasted this with retail prices, where onions fetch Rs 29–32 per kg online on platforms like BigBasket and Rs 25 per kg at Rythu Bazaars. "Is this not a deliberate attempt to create an impression that nothing can be done?" Reddy demanded, questioning why farmers receive only a fraction of these rates.
Also Read: Naidu Congratulates Indian Women’s Hockey, Men’s Cricket Teams
The tomato crisis is equally dire, with Reddy alleging that desperate farmers are dumping their produce on Kurnool’s streets due to a lack of buyers. He urged Naidu to intervene immediately, procure the farmers’ crops, and ensure fair prices to prevent further despair. "Farmers cannot be left to die while you remain a mute spectator," he asserted.
The opposition leader’s accusations have intensified scrutiny on the TDP-led government, which has yet to respond to the allegations. As farmers face mounting losses, Reddy’s call for urgent action underscores a growing crisis in Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural heartland, raising questions about the state’s commitment to its rural backbone.
Also Read: YSRCP Chief Jagan Exposes ₹250 Crore Urea Scam in Andhra
