Sharmila demands ₹2,500 MSP for onion farmers

In a significant political move, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila visited the Kurnool Onion Market Yard on Sunday, expressing her solidarity with distressed farmers and demanding an immediate Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,500 per quintal for their produce. Her visit comes amid a severe crisis where farmers are facing devastating losses due to a steep fall in onion prices.

During her interaction with farmers, Sharmila launched a sharp attack on the state government, accusing it of "betraying" the agricultural community. She highlighted the grim financial reality for farmers, pointing out that their investment ranges from ₹80,000 to ₹1.2 lakh per acre, yet they are currently forced to sell their harvest for less than ₹600 per quintal. This is a dramatic and painful contrast to the ₹4,500 per quintal they received just last year.

Sharmila also brought attention to the human toll of the crisis, alleging that some farmers have been driven to attempt suicide. She criticized the government for reportedly filing cases against the struggling farmers instead of providing them with much-needed support. Vowing to lead the fight for their rights, she emphasized a core principle of her party's ideology, stating, "A prosperous farmer is the foundation of a prosperous state."