Union Minister Rammohan Naidu said that the price of chilli quintal has been requested to be increased to more than Rs. 11,600. A high-level meeting was held in New Delhi on Friday under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the Union Agriculture Ministry office.
Union Agriculture Department officials and Union Minister Rammohan Naidu participated in this meeting. AP Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu and state Agriculture officials attended the meeting virtually from Amaravati. The problems of chilli farmers were discussed in this meeting.
After the meeting, Rammohan Naidu told the media that CM Chandrababu’s appeals regarding chilli farmers were discussed and the Union Minister assured that the procurement would be started as soon as possible.
He said that the Central Government has given a clear assurance that the Market Intervention Scheme (MIC) existing for paying the difference in price will be extended to 75 percent after getting the approval of the Group of Ministers.
He said that they would also look into the difference between the market price and the cost of production. He said that if the state government decides the price of a quintal of chilli at Rs. 11,600, the central government has given only Rs. 10,000. He said that this issue was also raised and the quintal price was asked to be given at Rs. 11,600 and above.
He said that the officials related to ICAR were also called and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered them to approve that price. He said that chilli exports are not happening now as they used to, and that was also discussed. He said that the decisions to be taken to promote chilli exports and their implementation were also discussed.
Ramamohan Naidu said that a decision has been made to organize a conference with chilli farmers and exporters in the state soon, to understand their problems and help them. He said that Shivraj Singh assured that suggestions on increasing chilli exports and connecting them to the international market will be implemented immediately.