Centre ready to help AP's red chilli farmers under MIS; ICAR to assess crop damage

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said the Centre will provide financial support to red chilli farmers of Andhra Pradesh and a decision will be taken soon in this regard.

He said the ministry is likely to provide help to farmers of the state under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu urged the Centre to help red chilli farmers under the MIS in view of a fall in prices. Naidu held a discussion with Chouhan through video conference.

In a press conference on Friday here, Chouhan assured that the Centre will be providing financial assistance under the MIS and modalities are being worked out.

That apart, he said the Centre is also making efforts to boost exports of red chilli.

According to a statement, the agriculture minister on Friday held a meeting to look into the problems of chilli farmers of Andhra Pradesh. Union Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu was also present in the meeting.

Chouhan directed ICAR to review the production cost of red chilli in Andhra Pradesh and submit a report.

This will help the Centre to provide financial assistance under the MIS to chilli farmers for 2024-25 season.

It was also decided that ICAR will send an expert team to visit chilli fields in Andhra Pradesh to study the damage to the crop due to pest infestation and suggest effective integrated pest management measures.

The MIS is meant for perishable agriculture/horticulture commodities such as tomato, onion and potato etc. not covered under MSP (minimum support price).

The scheme is implemented at the request of the state/UT government when there is a reduction of prices in the market by at least 10 per cent over the rates of the previous normal season in state/UT.

Under MIS, in place of physical procurement, states may have the option to make differential payments between Market Intervention Price (MIP) and selling price, subject to coverage of 25 per cent of the production of crops and a maximum price difference up to 25 per cent of MIP.

Chouhan also asked to prepare a proposal regarding increasing the coverage limit of red chilli under MIS from 25 per cent of production.

The minister also directed to organize training and capacity building programs under the cluster development program.

During the meeting, it was decided an exporters' meeting will be organised soon to explore opportunities for export of red chilli from Andhra Pradesh. PTI MJH MJH MR

Source: PTI