Agriculture Department Must Focus on Crop-Wise Planning: CM Chandrababu Naidu
Farmers must be informed in advance about the state of national and international markets, and which crops should be cultivated.
Ensure that only crops with demand are cultivated, so that farmers do not suffer losses.
HD Burley tobacco is being paid ₹12,000 per metric tonne, and cocoa ₹500 per kilogram.
The Chief Minister has directed that companies should procure tobacco and cocoa crops.
If prices fall below the support price, officials have been instructed to directly support the farmers.
Discussions are underway with the Centre to include HD Burley and White Burley tobacco in the Tobacco Board.
A crop holiday has been declared this year for the HD Burley tobacco variety to prevent farmer losses.
Efforts are underway to reduce GST on pure juices – mango juice to be included in midday meals and as TTD prasadam.
The Chief Minister will discuss farmers' issues with Union Ministers during his visit to Delhi.
CM is reviewing crops and remunerative pricing with the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
Amaravati, May 22, 2025: To protect farmers from losses, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed the Agriculture Department to prioritise scientific crop planning aligned with global and domestic market trends. He said that informing farmers beforehand about suitable crops and cultivation areas ensures a balanced supply-demand ecosystem. Cultivation must be restricted to crops with strong market demand to safeguard farmer incomes.
The CM advised RTGS and agriculture officials to continually monitor global developments, market trends, and crop yields for informed planning. He stated that both short-term and long-term challenges in agriculture must be addressed through the Cabinet Sub-Committee, which now includes Ministers Gottipati Ravi Kumar and Ramanaidu as new members.
In a teleconference with officials and ministers on Thursday, the Chief Minister reviewed the issues faced by farmers cultivating tobacco, cocoa, mango, and paddy.
Cocoa Procurement at ₹500/kg via Companies or Government if Required
The CM instructed officials to ensure companies procure cocoa at ₹500 per kg and stated that farmers should not be forced to sell below that rate. If necessary, the government will step in to procure directly. Currently, cocoa stocks are estimated at 1,200–1,500 metric tonnes, of which around 600 metric tonnes are held by farmers.
Procurement and Crop Holiday for HD Burley Tobacco
The CM directed officials to initiate procurement of the approximately 20 million kg of HD Burley tobacco currently held by farmers. As there is no market demand, a crop holiday has been declared for HD Burley this year to prevent farmer losses. Officials were told to collect accurate data via an app on the volume of HD Burley stock held by each farmer. A dedicated cell in the Tobacco Board is now tracking daily procurement.
Additionally, CM has written to the Union Commerce Ministry requesting inclusion of HD Burley and White Burley varieties under the Tobacco Board. He also plans to raise farmers’ issues with central ministers during his upcoming visit to Delhi.
Measures to Boost Mango Juice Consumption
Due to a lack of orders, mango pulp procurement has slowed, worrying mango growers. CM Chandrababu Naidu urged officials to ensure pulp processing companies resume procurement immediately. However, officials explained that old stockpiles and a lack of bank loans for pulp companies have limited their capacity to purchase fresh stock.
To resolve this, the CM directed officials to facilitate bank loans for pulp processing companies. He also noted that the 40% GST on pure fruit juices has impacted mango demand and announced plans to seek GST reduction from the Centre.
To increase consumption, CM Chandrababu Naidu proposed distributing mango juice in the Midday Meal Scheme and offering it as prasadam at Tirumala through TTD.
Discussion on Paddy and Tomato Farmer Issues
The CM also reviewed challenges faced by tomato farmers and instructed officials to encourage more tomato processing units in the state to ensure fair prices. On paddy, officials informed him that procurement is progressing smoothly and even rain-damaged stock is being purchased.
Ministers Ayyanna Patrudu, Nadendla Manohar, Gottipati Ravi, Ramanaidu, and Payyavula Keshav participated in the review meeting.
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