Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao criticized Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, saying that while the Congress wants farmers' votes, they do not care about their crops. He accused the Congress of making big promises during election time but forgetting them now, leaving farmers waiting at procurement centres with high hopes.
Harish Rao was speaking at a government-run procurement centre in Baddipadaga village, Siddipet district on Sunday. He pointed out that it’s been a month since the government announced it would open procurement centres, but farmers are still waiting without any progress. “What kind of support is this?” he questioned, highlighting the lack of immediate action.
In some districts, frustrated farmers have taken to the streets in protest. They are demanding action and fair prices from the government. Harish Rao noted that during elections, Revanth Reddy quickly promised support for farmers, but now neither he nor his ministers are visiting the procurement centres to see the struggles of the farmers.
Harish Rao also spoke about the dire consequences of delayed procurement. He said farmers are being forced to sell cotton, which should fetch Rs 7,521 per quintal, for only Rs 5,000 due to the lack of government support. Additionally, he mentioned that there is no minimum support price for cotton, no procurement centres for maize, and paddy is being sold for as low as Rs 1,800 per quintal, which is far below fair prices. “Farmers work hard to grow their crops. Is it fair that they must now struggle just to sell them?” he asked.
