Haveri: former CM and MP Bssavaraja Bommai has urged the union government to take measures to procure the dry chillies produced by Karnataka’s farmers due to the increased production of dry chillies in Karnataka, resulting in the crash of its prices in market.
In a letter to union ministers for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, he has said Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the major chilli-producing states in India. Chillies are widely used across the country and are also exported in large quantities to foreign markets. Chilli cultivation is highly sensitive, requiring significant efforts to protect the crop from pest infestations, making it a challenging task.
Bommai said although chilli production was stable last year, speculative activities in both domestic and international markets led to a large stock of unsold produce, pushing farmers into distress. Rising costs of fertilizers and pesticides have further escalated the investment required for chilli farming, increasing financial burdens on farmers.
The MP has thanked the central government for deciding to procure chillies from Andhra Pradesh farmers to safeguard their interests. However, he pointed out that Karnataka’s farmers have not been included in this procurement initiative. It is crucial for Karnataka’s chilli farmers to be covered under this scheme as well.
Considering the gravity and urgency of the matter, Bommai appealed to the Union Ministers to extend support and ensure that Karnataka’s chilli farmers also benefit from government procurement initiatives.
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