Farmers across Andhra Pradesh say Chandrababu Naidu’s governance has become a bigger disaster than any natural calamity. Cyclone Michaung ravaged their fields, but the greater blow, they say, is the government’s total failure to provide relief or ensure fair prices. With every major crop, from paddy and maize to cotton, banana, coconut, and mango, fetching non-remunerative rates, farmers are unable to recover even their basic investment. Many, shattered by losses and abandoned by the state, are leaving their crops as fodder in the fields. Public anger is rising as the government focuses on publicity and theatrics while ignoring the real suffering of farmers who now describe this situation as unprecedented and unbearable.
Farmers sidelined while government focuses on publicity
Farmers growing major crops like cotton, groundnut, and maize have not received fair prices and are sinking into heavy losses. As prices crash and farmers suffer, the Chandrababu government remains indifferent, prioritizing mere publicity over governance and farmer welfare. Farmers recall that Chandrababu insulted them in the past by calling agriculture a losing proposition, and now the same mindset continues in power.
Flooded with hardships and tears
Across the state, whichever crop is grown, losses alone remain. With no government support, farmers are struggling for survival, caught between excess rains and drought-induced stress, losing financially on all sides. There is a widespread belief that Chandrababu’s rule invariably brings hardship and calamity for farmers. Opposition leaders point out that every time he comes to power, drought, crop failure, flood-like situations, and low rainfall conditions haunt the state. Chillies, tobacco, cocoa, mango, tomato, aquaculture products, paddy, and now maize, banana, and cotton, no crop is getting profitable prices. On top of that, the government has not provided any relief. The situation is so dire that farmers are being pushed towards suicide.
Negligence during cyclones
There is growing criticism that after securing votes with lofty promises, farmers are abandoned by the government. Whether cyclones or floods cause heavy crop damage, whether farmers fail to get minimum support price, none of these concerns are addressed. Instead, unfulfilled promises and continued indifference have left the farming community heartbroken.
Fraud in investment support
The Rythu Bharosa scheme implemented during the YSRCP tenure, formerly called ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’, was renamed and diluted. In the previous model, farmers were to receive Rs. 20,000 per year, totaling Rs. 40,000 over two years. But the Chandrababu government has provided only Rs. 10,000 in two installments so far, and even that after cutting off 7 lakh beneficiaries.
RBKs being dismantled
The Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), established during the YSRCP rule to support farmers from seed to crop sale, ensured transparency by displaying beneficiary lists and providing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and procurement services within villages. Now, under the name “Rythu Seva Kendras,” these centers are being weakened and rendered ineffective. YSRCP leaders remind that not once in the previous government’s five years were farmers forced to stand in queues for essential support.
YSRCPs Governance: a backbone for farmers
- The previous YSRCP government implemented several revolutionary reforms by establishing 10,778 RBKs, assisting farmers from sowing to selling their crops and providing seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides at the village level.
- Under YSR Rythu Bharosa, Rs. 34,288 crore was provided to 53.58 lakh farmers. Free crop insurance was implemented, covering 54.55 lakh farmers between 2019–23, with Rs. 7,802.5 crore paid out and the premium borne entirely by the government.
- Rs. 1,700 crore was spent on strengthening electricity feeders for uninterrupted free power to farmers.
- Aqua farmers were supplied power at Rs. 1.50 per unit; interest-free crop loans were provided.
- Input subsidy was delivered before the end of each season. Hassle-free paddy procurement systems were ensured.
- Overall, the YSRCP spent Rs. 1,84,567 crore on the agriculture sector over five years, turning farming into a festival of sorts under Y.S. Jagan’s leadership.
- Now, all these systems have been dismantled by the Chandrababu-led coalition government, which has deceived farmers without giving them even a single rupee in meaningful support.
