Harish Rao slams Congress government for failing Telangana farmers

"Farmers are being deceived in every way," he said, expressing anger over the government’s failure to commence crop procurement and provide MSP as promised during elections.

Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Telangana, for neglecting farmers by failing to procure crops, implement Minimum Support Price (MSP), and deliver promised bonuses. He said farmers are facing severe distress under the Congress rule.

In a statement, Harish Rao condemned the Congress government’s inaction, despite plight of Telangana’s farmers, especially those cultivating cotton, maize, and paddy. “Farmers are being deceived in every way,” he said, expressing anger over the government’s failure to commence crop procurement and provide MSP as promised during elections.

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The BRS leader said cotton cultivation was taken up in around 44.5 lakh acres and the government claimed that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) opened 322 procurement centres. However, he said cotton was not purchased from farmers so far, forcing the latter to sell their produce to private traders at Rs 5,000 per quintal, far below the MSP of Rs 7,521 per quintal. He reminded that cotton farmers already suffered severe loss due to untimely rains leading to reduced yields.

The situation is equally dire for maize and paddy farmers. With no procurement orders issued, maize farmers are selling at Rs 2,000 per quintal, far below the MSP of Rs 2,225. Meanwhile, paddy farmers are receiving Rs 1,800-1,900 per quintal, significantly lower than the MSP of Rs 2,320, as adequate procurement centres were not opened till date.

“The Congress government, led by Revanth Reddy, abandoned the farmers at a crucial time. They are not even being paid the promised Rs 500 bonus for none of the crops,” he said. He urged the State government to stop focusing on HYDRA, Musi River rejuvenation and Fourth City, and instead, initiated immediate action to prevent further damage to farmers as well as the State’s agricultural sector.