Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu launched a fierce attack on the YSRCP, accusing their “Paytm batches” of spreading false narratives using outdated statistics from 2018-19. He asserted that the YSRCP is attempting to deflect blame for the agricultural crisis they created during their five-year tenure. According to the Minister, it was under Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership that the average debt of a farming household in the state skyrocketed to ₹2.45 lakh, making AP the most indebted state for farmers in the country.
Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Atchannaidu highlighted that Andhra Pradesh consistently ranked among the top three states for farmer suicides during the previous government’s rule. He criticized the former administration for neglecting irrigation projects and allegedly damaging the Polavaram diaphragm wall. He dismissed YSRCP’s current social media campaigns as a desperate attempt to hide these “grim realities” and vowed that the current NDA coalition government would restore agriculture to its former glory.
Key Highlights of the Minister’s Statement:
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Financial Aid Secured: He noted that CM Chandrababu Naidu successfully secured ₹216 crore under the PM-PRANAM scheme and ₹695 crore for ‘Per Drop More Crop’ during his recent Delhi visit.
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Infrastructure for Farmers: Plans are underway to establish processing parks with an investment of ₹200 crore for coconut farmers and modernize markets on par with Karnataka’s standards.
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Welfare Assurance: The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’ initiative, promising comprehensive support and security to every farmer in the state.
