TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh on Tuesday in Pilar constituency of Annamayya district along with former ministers N. Amarnath Reddy and N. With Kishore Kumar Reddy during his ‘Yuva Galam’ walkathon.
Farmers lamented the three-fold increase in input cost since 2019 and expressed their grievances to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) general secretary Nara Lokesh on Tuesday.
At a farmers’ meeting held in the traditional tomato belt of Vayalpadu mandal in Pilar constituency, participants said they used to spend Rs 10,000 per acre earlier, which has gone up to Rs 30,000 today. Complaining that the Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) provided nothing but urea, he also alleged that the counter staff asked him about his political affiliation before issuing the stock. Farmers said the government had siphoned off scores of subsidies, including fodder, on the pretext of offering financial assistance under the Rythu Bharosa.
Shri Lokesh said the Naidu regime offered drip irrigation at 90% subsidy, which has largely benefited in wetting the arid areas of Rayalaseema, while the current government, in stark contrast, had not released a single drip connection . He warned that the proposal to install meters for agricultural connections would prove to be the death knell for the farmers.
The TDP leader inquired about the tomato processing unit promised by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during his padyatra ahead of the 2019 elections. “I have seen 26 RBKs under lock and key, which is an indicator of the performance of this government,” he said.