Thu May 08 15:11:28 UTC 2025: ## Central Government Intervenes to Aid Telangana Chilli Farmers
**Hyderabad, May 8, 2025** – The Indian central government has stepped in to assist Telangana chilli farmers facing distress sales due to low market prices. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, also the Telangana BJP president, alerted the Agriculture Minister to the issue, highlighting prices as low as ₹5,000-₹6,000 per quintal in several districts. He criticized the state government for failing to protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen.
In response, the central government will implement a Market Intervention System (MIS) under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme. This will involve a Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) to ensure farmers receive a minimum price of ₹10,374 per quintal. The scheme will cover 1,72,135 metric tonnes of chillies (25% of Telangana’s estimated production).
The state government will initially provide the price difference to farmers, with the central government reimbursing 50% of the cost. Eligibility is limited to farmers selling through recognized APMC markets. This intervention aims to protect farmers’ incomes and compensate for the gap between market prices and the cost of cultivation.
First Piper 