Support all cyclone-hit farmers, pay input subsidy 

Tadepalli, 11 November: YSRCP General Secretary for Agriculture & Farmer Welfare MVS Nagi Reddy demanded that the coalition government immediately provide unconditional input subsidy and full compensation to every farmer affected by Cyclone Mantha. He said the government must respond with humanity, not hostility. “Every cyclone-hit farmer must be supported; this is not a favour but the government’s duty,” he stated, accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of continuing his old anti-farmer mindset.
Nagi Reddy said farmers suffered massive damage across 24 districts, yet the government claimed only 3.99 lakh acres were affected, calling it a deliberate under-assessment. He noted that paddy alone was cultivated in 29 lakh acres in the cyclone belt and a large portion of it, including fallen (sunku ralipoyina) crop that yields no grain, was destroyed. Despite this, the government falsely claims minimal loss. “Fallen paddy has zero yield. Ignoring it proves the government wants to deny compensation,” he said. He stressed that government data itself shows 26 districts saw excess rainfall, including 18 districts with large excess rainfall, making crop loss obvious and unavoidable.
He highlighted that paddy output, earlier estimated at 83 lakh MT, is now expected to drop to 70 lakh MT, yet the government claims only 4.36 lakh MT loss across all crops including maize, cotton, groundnut, pulses, tobacco and sugarcane. He criticised the government’s threat that farmers must choose between input subsidy and MSP procurement, calling it “brutal blackmail,” and said officials and WhatsApp messages are warning farmers that subsidy claims will block crop purchase. “One benefit means another cut, this is cruelty, not governance. National policy mandates subsidy when one-third crop loss occurs. Why is AP violating it?” he asked.
Contrasting this with the previous government, he said YSRCP made agriculture “a festival” by ensuring Rs. 99,734 crore reached farmers directly. This included Rs. 34,288 crore under Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan to 53.58 lakh farmers, free crop insurance for every acre and every farmer with Rs. 7,802 crore paid to 54.55 lakh farmers, Rs. 3,261 crore input subsidy paid within the same season, clearing Rs. 1,180 crore TDP arrears, Rs. 2,050 crore zero-interest loans, Rs. 366 crore Yantra Seva subsidy with Rs. 1,000 crore worth machinery, Rs. 138 crore seed subsidy, and Rs. 116 crore to families of 1,794 farmers who died by suicide. He recalled fighting for farmers for 20 years and said never has he seen such a crisis, with one suicide every two days and families ignored.
He said TDP-led government promised Rs. 40,000 under Annadata Sukhibhava but gave only Rs. 5,000 and left Rs. 19,089 crore unpaid, and has now scrapped free insurance and welfare, leaving farmers exposed to drought and floods. “Cyclone Mantha devastated lakhs of farmers. Instead of relief, this government is threatening them. It must stop intimidation and compensate farmers as much as insurance would have given.”
He demanded unconditional subsidy, MSP procurement for all crops including fallen paddy, realistic damage assessment, and immediate relief. “Governments exist to protect people, not to punish them. Farmers need support, not fear,” he asserted.