‘Mirchi’ Issue Resolved In A Single Day!

Until yesterday, the issue of chilli (Mirchi) farmers in Andhra Pradesh not receiving a fair price for their produce had everyone on the run. However, with TDP chief and AP CM Chandrababu Naidu stepping in directly, the problem was resolved in just a single day. Farmers, who were facing financial losses, received a massive relief. Actions have already begun to ensure they get the right price for their produce within the next couple of days. The swift response from the central government has been widely appreciated.

Few days back, YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the Guntur chilli yard, disregarding the election code, to highlight the issue. However, Chandrababu Naidu had already taken note of the situation and immediately swung into action. He wrote a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting intervention to ensure a fair price for chilli farmers. The very next day, during his visit to Delhi for Rekha Gupta’s swearing-in ceremony as the new CM of Delhi, Naidu decided that letters alone wouldn’t suffice and took the matter directly to the Union Agriculture Ministry.

At the time of Naidu’s visit, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was reportedly not available at his office. However, upon learning about Naidu’s arrival, Chouhan immediately alerted his ministry officials and arranged a virtual meeting with the AP CM. During the meeting, Naidu provided a comprehensive explanation of the struggles faced by chilli farmers in Andhra Pradesh and insisted that central intervention was necessary. He also acknowledged the constraints the central government faces and offered strategic suggestions on overcoming them.

Being a former Chief Minister himself, Chouhan understood the severity of the issue. Without delay, he held discussions with key officials overnight to address the problem. By the next morning, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and AP representative Kinjaraapu Ram Mohan Naidu was called in. A special meeting was held with senior officials from the Agriculture and Marketing departments to finalize a solution.

Under the Market Intervention Scheme, the central government typically purchases only 25% of the total crop production. However, as a special measure, this limit was increased to 75%, allowing for immediate procurement. A crucial decision was made to initiate these purchases without delay.

Following this, Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu and AP officials held a virtual meeting with Shivraj Singh Chouhan, where the Union Minister formally conveyed the central government’s decision and instructed officials to take immediate action.

As a result, the chilli farmers’ issue, which had been causing distress for days, was resolved within just a few hours—demonstrating the efficiency of swift governance.