The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP urges YSR to bail out chilli farmers Markfed accused of inaction

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Sunday, Apr 10, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP urges YSR to bail out chilli farmers Markfed accused of inaction

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, APRIL 9. A delegation of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Saturday called on the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, here and urged the Government to lift the chilli stocks from farmers at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 2,700 a quintal.

The delegation informed Dr. Reddy that farmers were resorting to distress sale and incurred heavy loss as Markfed was not purchasing at the required level taking shelter under the ceiling of ten quintals a farmer.

The TDP demanded that Markfed buy at least 50 per cent of the stock from farmers at the MSP without any condition which would entail the Government a loss of not more than Rs. 50 crores.

The delegation reminded Dr. Reddy about the TDP Government purchasing chillies at a loss of Rs. 100 crores to Markfed.

Sri Lankan offer

It recalled the offer of a Sri Lankan consortium two months ago to purchase chillies from the State at $ 600 to 700 a tonne but the State Government turned it down.

Now, the Government was put to the embarrassment of approaching Sri Lanka to purchase the stocks at $ 500 a tonne.

The delegation comprised Telugu Desam Legislature Party vice-presidents -- Ch. Rajeswara Rao and Ayyanna Patrudu, the secretary, E. Dayakar Rao, and the MLAs -- N. Amarnath Reddy, K. Subbarayudu, V. Narendar Reddy, Karanam Balaramakrishnamurthy and G. Sayanna.

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