*Agriculture in deep crisis under Coalition Rule*

Tadepalli, May 24: YSRCP General Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare MVS Nagi Reddy said Andhra Pradesh’s agriculture sector is collapsing under the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government, while farmers are being pushed into severe financial distress. Addressing the media in Tadepalli, he stated that within just two rabi seasons, farmers cultivating paddy, tobacco, maize, and Bengal gram suffered losses of nearly Rs.7,900 crore due to flawed government policies when compared to the support extended during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure.

He said fertilizer prices have increased by 10 to 40 percent after the Centre reduced subsidy burden, while MSP hikes remain negligible. Despite rising cultivation costs, the government has failed to protect farmers. He questioned why the coalition government blames “war impact” when the Jagan government successfully supported farmers even during the COVID crisis.

MVS Nagi Reddy said the urea crisis last year exposed total government failure, with fertilizers unavailable at government prices while black-market sales flourished openly. He also pointed out that subsidised seeds distributed through RBKs during the YSRCP government are now unavailable even before kharif begins.

He stated that tobacco farmers alone suffered Rs.2,230 crore losses in two years as prices crashed sharply under the coalition government. Bengal gram farmers lost nearly Rs.3,300 crore, while maize farmers suffered Rs.3,150 crore losses after being forced to sell below MSP. Paddy farmers across districts are also selling at heavy losses.

He warned that if tenant, small, and marginal farmers continue sinking into debt without recovering investments, the entire rural economy will collapse.