Mango Farmers Protected, Jagan Playing Politics: Minister Ramprasad Reddy
Politically driven show of strength, rather than a genuine outreach to mango farmers: Transport minister M. Ramprasad Reddy
TIRUPATI: Transport minister M. Ramprasad Reddy, who is in-charge of Chittoor district, has objected to YSR Congress (YSRC) party chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to Bangarupalem, calling it a politically driven show of strength, rather than a genuine outreach to mango farmers.
He alleged that the former chief minister’s visits are aimed at creating unrest. He accused Jagan of misusing farmer issues for political mileage.
In a statement on Wednesday, the minister claimed that over 25,000 YSRC workers had been mobilised from Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya and Kadapa districts using 90 buses, 1,810 cars and vans, apart from 2,230 bikes. He questioned the need for such a large mobilisation if the intent had been to console farmers.
Ramprasad Reddy maintained that actual farmers accompanying Jagan Mohan Reddy numbered less than 100.
Defending the state government’s handling of the mango procurement crisis, the minister explained that production of Totapuri mangoes increased from 2.5 lakh metric tonnes last year to 6.5 lakh metric tonnes this year. He said the government acted early to protect farmers from price crashes by announcing a support price of ₹4 per kg. In addition, efforts are being made to ensure that traders and pulp factories pay at least ₹8 per kg, ensuring a minimum return of ₹12 per kg to farmers.
Ramprasad Reddy pointed out that 3,08,261 metric tonnes of mangoes, 1.65 lakh tonnes from Chittoor, 45,000 tonnes from Tirupati, and 16,400 tonnes from Annamayya districts, have been procured. An additional 81,000 metric tonnes have been exported to other states via market yards. These purchases helped 50,922 farmers across these districts.
The minister said to prevent market saturation, AP government restricted Totapuri mango imports from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Further, a request has been sent to the central government seeking ₹130 crore under the Market Intervention Scheme and for reducing GST on mango pulp from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.
Ramprasad Reddy asserted that the state government is working with sincerity to address both the farmers’ and industry’s concerns, contrasting it with what he termed as YSRC’s political theatrics in the name of farmer solidarity.