Meagre hike in paddy MSP shocking 

Vijayawada, May 29:  Former Agri Mission vice Chairman, MVS Nagi Reddy criticised the Central Government’s recent Minimum Support Price (MSP) announcement for the 2025–26 agricultural season. 
In a video statement released to media, he termed the meagre Rs. 69 increase per quintal in paddy MSP — which translates to just 69 paise per kilogram — as deeply disappointing and a grave injustice to farmers across the state.
Highlighting that paddy is the most widely cultivated crop in Andhra Pradesh, Nagi Reddy expressed shock over the fact that while the cost of cultivation has increased substantially, the hike in MSP for paddy amounts to merely 3%. “This token increment is unacceptable. For other crops, the MSP has been increased by 5% to 10%, which indicates that the Centre itself acknowledges the rise in production costs. Then why this discriminatory treatment for paddy?” he questioned.
He further recalled that during the previous agricultural unrest in Andhra Pradesh, a Central fact-finding committee had visited the state and submitted a report confirming the high cost of paddy cultivation. “That report explicitly stated that farmers are incurring losses due to increased input costs. 
The Centre is fully aware of this. Yet, the current MSP hike ignores ground realities and puts farmers at greater risk,” he added.
Calling for an immediate review of the MSPs announced not just for paddy but for all agricultural commodities, Nagi Reddy warned that the lack of fair support prices could push the entire farming community into a severe agrarian crisis. 
“This is not just a policy lapse—it’s a betrayal of farmers’ livelihoods. I urge the policymakers and agricultural economists to revisit this decision without delay,” he asserted.
With inflation in agricultural inputs and mounting climate challenges, he emphasized that proactive and inclusive policymaking is essential to ensure the viability of farming. “Our farmers deserve more than token gestures. 
They deserve justice and fair compensation for their hard work,” he concluded.