- Coalition government turns hostile towards farmers
- As drought grips the State, Chief Minister and Ministers threaten farmers not to cultivate paddy
- Telling farmers not to grow paddy is a glaring example of the government’s incompetence
- Pro-government media publishes reports aimed at weakening crops and farmers
- Drought wreaks havoc whenever Chandrababu comes to power
- A wretched administration that cannot supply water even to the Godavari delta
- El Niño threat was known six months in advance, yet the government remained negligent
- Not only farmers, but women, weavers, youth and every other section have been betrayed
- Three cylinders a year, free bus travel, Talliki Vandanam—cuts imposed on every promise
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is brutally deceiving every section of society in the State, including farmers, women, weavers and youth. As a severe drought crisis grips Andhra Pradesh, the government is resorting to cruel measures to conceal its failures. Despite knowing six months in advance about the threat of deficient rainfall and El Niño, it failed to undertake even basic water management. For the first time, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the government is unable to supply water even to the Godavari delta. Chandrababu has once again proved the saying that drought is inevitable whenever he comes to power. Even under such conditions, Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and Agriculture Minister Parthasarathi are threatening farmers not to cultivate paddy, exposing the complete incompetence of their administration.
A symbol of incompetence
It is shameful that Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and Parthasarathi are threatening farmers not to cultivate paddy. This stands as clear evidence of the Chandrababu government’s incompetence. Farmers are questioning why proper water management was not undertaken despite the government knowing six months in advance about the threat of deficient rainfall and El Niño. They point out that, in an unprecedented situation, even the Godavari delta is not receiving water. Farmers are expressing anguish that Chandrababu has once again proved the saying that drought follows wherever he steps.
Where is the remunerative price?
The government is asking farmers to cultivate alternative crops instead of paddy. But is it providing even a minimum remunerative price for the other crops already produced by farmers?
Chilli, which should fetch more than Rs.20,000 per quintal, has fallen to Rs.12,000–13,000. Mangoes and onions have been dumped on roads due to the absence of support prices. Traders are cutting the prices of sweet lime and banana by half, but there is no one to intervene. Bengal gram and cotton farmers are being denied support prices and are falling into debt after storing their produce. Tomato farmers are in distress, with no buyers even at one rupee per kilogram in the market.
What is the logic behind restricting Fish-Feed exports?
Aqua farmers are already suffering because of rising feed prices and the absence of remunerative prices for their produce. In such a situation, the government’s announcement that it will impose restrictions on fish-feed exports is absurd.
The real problem is the government’s failure to intervene in the market. Instead of ensuring the availability of quality feed to the aqua sector, the government is resorting to various excuses and taking measures that will damage the livelihoods of aqua farmers.
‘Zero-Interest’ drama for Tobacco Farmers
Will the government evade old dues and show farmers new hopes? After the coalition government came to power, it completely shelved the zero-interest crop loan scheme that was extended to farmers across the State during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure. Now it is making fresh claims that tobacco farmers will be provided interest-free loans of up to Rs.60,000. How can a government that denied farmers free crop insurance and zero-interest loans across the State claim that it will rescue tobacco farmers?
Repeated drama in the name of ‘Deepam’
Chandrababu has completely deceived women. He promised three free LPG cylinders every year. By now, the government should have paid for three cylinders in the first year, three in the second year and one more cylinder in the third year—a total of seven cylinders. But women have received support for only one or two cylinders.
In May 2025, the government publicised that the cash for free cylinders would be deposited in beneficiaries’ accounts in advance. Even after more than a year, by July 2026, it once again claimed in the latest Cabinet meeting that the amount would be deposited once every four months. The government must immediately disclose how much it was required to pay and how much it has actually paid.
All ‘Super Six’ promises abandoned
The coalition promised Rs.1,500 every month to every woman aged between 18 and 59, but has not paid even a single rupee. It denied zero-interest assistance to women and weakened the creditworthiness of DWCRA groups.
Although 16 categories were initially mentioned under the free bus scheme, the benefit was restricted to only five categories, leaving women disappointed.
Talliki Vandanam has also turned into a deception. The coalition promised Rs.15,000 for every school-going child in a family, irrespective of the number of children, but excluded nearly 20 lakh children.
Why these restrictions on Nethanna Nestham?
The Nethanna Nestham scheme was shelved. The entire first year’s assistance was denied. When Rs.48,000 should have been paid for two years, how much has actually been given? The government is now staging another drama in the name of implementation.
How many beneficiaries will receive assistance? YSR Nethanna Nestham was implemented effectively during our government. The beneficiary database already existed. Why is the coalition government creating fresh hurdles now? How can this be justified?
During the previous YSRCP government, transparent enumeration was conducted every year and more than 80,000 loom workers regularly received Rs.24,000 annually for five years. The coalition government stopped this welfare programme immediately after taking office.
It reduced the number of beneficiaries by nearly half, denied funds to APCO, betrayed its election promises and dealt a severe blow to the handloom sector.
Injustice to 26,000 Weavers
Before the elections, Chandrababu promised that his government would improve support for weavers and provide financial assistance to more than 93,000 loom workers.
After coming to power, however, the government announced assistance of Rs.25,000 to only 54,000 beneficiaries, which is a grave injustice. The government must explain on what basis more than 26,000 workers were removed.
With the investment assistance provided by the previous YSRCP government, handloom workers purchased yarn and dyes, wove cloth and lived with dignity. During the past two and a half years of coalition rule, there has been no meaningful attempt to support them. Even when workers’ associations met Lokesh and submitted their grievances, there was no response.
People will confront them directly
What has the government achieved to justify going door to door? After abandoning the Super Six promises, pushing farmers into drought and depriving handloom workers of their livelihoods, with what face will the coalition leaders approach the people?
They failed to provide irrigation water to farmers, failed to supply seeds and failed to clear dues owed to weavers. When TDP leaders come in the name of “Intintiki TDP,” women, farmers and workers will certainly confront them and demand answers.
Stop the Daylight Drama
The coalition government must immediately stop its daylight theatrics and publicity-driven announcements.
YSRCP demands that:
- Every handloom worker who owns a loom must receive full assistance, including the pending dues for two years.
- Immediate disaster-management measures must be taken to protect every drought-affected farmer.
- Pending crop-insurance compensation must be released without delay.
- All zero-interest loan dues must be cleared immediately.
The coalition government must stop deceiving people through newspaper advertisements and begin fulfilling the promises it made before the elections.
