Thu May 22 23:45:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is taking proactive steps to protect the state’s farmers by focusing on market-driven crop planning. He’s directing the Agriculture Department to align crop production with both global and domestic market trends. Key initiatives include ensuring fair prices for cocoa, addressing the surplus of HD Burley tobacco through a crop holiday and government intervention, and resolving the slowdown in mango pulp procurement by facilitating bank loans for processing companies and seeking a GST reduction on pure fruit juices. He’s also emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring of market trends and addressing agricultural challenges through a Cabinet Sub-Committee.

**News Article:**

**Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu Pushes for Market-Driven Crop Planning to Protect Farmers**

*VIJAYAWADA, May 23, 2025* – Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has launched a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the state’s farmers by prioritizing scientific crop planning that is responsive to global and domestic market demands.

In a teleconference with agriculture officials and ministers on Thursday, Mr. Naidu emphasized the need to inform farmers about optimal crops and cultivation areas to maintain a balance between supply and demand. He stated, “Cultivation must be restricted to crops with strong market demand to safeguard farmers’ income.”

Key initiatives announced include:

* **Cocoa:** Ensuring companies procure cocoa at a minimum of ₹500 per kg, with the government ready to intervene with direct procurement if necessary.
* **HD Burley Tobacco:** Addressing a significant surplus by declaring a crop holiday for the year and directing officials to collect accurate data on existing stocks. The Tobacco Board is also establishing a dedicated cell to track daily procurement.
* **Mango Pulp:** Tackling a slowdown in procurement due to lack of orders by facilitating bank loans for pulp processing companies and advocating for a reduction in the 40% GST on pure fruit juices from the central government.

Mr. Naidu has tasked the Agriculture Department and RTGS officials with continuously monitoring global developments, market trends, and crop yields to inform planning. He also noted that both short-term and long-term challenges in agriculture will be addressed through the Cabinet Sub-Committee, which has gained Ministers Gottipati Ravi Kumar and Ramanaidu as new members.

The meeting included Ministers K. Atchannaidu (Agriculture), Nadendla Manohar (Civil Supplies), Gottipati Ravi Kumar (Energy), Mr. Ramanaidu (Water Resources), and Payyavula Keshav (Finance). The moves reflect the government’s commitment to supporting Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural sector and ensuring the economic well-being of its farmers.

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