Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila Reddy took a unique stand to support struggling banana farmers by driving a truck filled with bananas to the Kadapa district Collector’s office. She aimed to draw attention to the challenges faced by farmers due to plummeting banana prices. Sharmila Reddy emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to address the crisis and handed over a memorandum to the Joint Collector.
Highlighting the dire situation of banana farmers, Sharmila Reddy pointed out the significant drop in prices, falling from Rs 26,000 per tonne to as low as Rs 4,000 per tonne. She accused trader syndicates of manipulating the market, leading to continuous losses for farmers. The high cost of banana cultivation, averaging Rs 2–3 lakh per acre with a yield of about 30 tonnes, has made it impossible for farmers to cover their expenses at the current price levels.
Sharmila Reddy also raised concerns about the lack of cold storage facilities, which forces farmers to sell their produce at distressingly low prices. She criticized the government for not fulfilling promises made to farmers, including pending insurance dues worth Rs 170 crore. Despite previous announcements of financial support for price stabilization, Sharmila Reddy alleged that farmers have not received any substantial assistance. She demanded immediate government action, including fair pricing, crackdown on trader syndicates, provision of quality saplings, and compensation for farmers through the price stabilization mechanism.
Reiterating her commitment, Sharmila Reddy pledged unwavering support from the Congress Party until justice is served to the farmers.
