BJP leader Gudur Narayana Reddy has asked the government to help farmers sell their paddy and avoid being ripped off by rice millers and market agents. Because the government has been slow to buy paddy, farmers are having to sell to millers who are cheating them out of fair prices. Millers are using excuses like moisture and wastage to give farmers less money for their crops. They might pay more if farmers agree to their terms, but otherwise they’re paying far less than what the crops are worth. This is unfair.
Farmers have already had a hard time due to rain that came at the wrong time, and many of them have lost their crops. Over 50,000 bags of paddy were lost in the market yards and procurement centers because of rain. Some market yards were so wet that the paddy lost its quality. On top of that, market agents are reducing the price of paddy because of high moisture content.
Gudur Narayana Reddy thinks the government needs to step in and help farmers sell their paddy faster so they can avoid being cheated by millers and agents. The government should make sure that farmers get the minimum support price for their crops.
