YSRCP Stages Farmers’ Protest in Penukonda Over Crop, Power Issues

Farmers, backed by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), staged a protest in Roddam mandal of the Penukonda Assembly constituency in Sri Sathya Sai district, demanding immediate action on a range of agricultural issues.

The protest was led by former minister Ushasri Charan outside the electricity office. The protesters accused the government of failing to adequately address concerns related to Rythu Bharosa, Annadata Sukhibhava, crop insurance, input subsidy, remunerative prices, irrigation and farm power supply.

Addressing the gathering, Ushasri Charan said uninterrupted electricity was as important to farming as water. She urged the authorities to ensure reliable and timely power supply to agricultural connections, pointing out that frequent disruptions could prevent farmers from irrigating their fields and add to their losses.

She also sought immediate compensation for farmers whose crops had been damaged and demanded that crop insurance claims and input subsidies be released promptly to all eligible beneficiaries.

Highlighting the dry conditions prevailing in parts of the Penukonda constituency, Ushasri Charan urged the government to assess the situation at the field level and declare all mandals in the constituency as drought-affected areas. She said crop losses should be scientifically assessed and appropriate relief measures initiated without delay.

The former minister further called for timely availability of quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides and urged officials to take strict action against the sale of spurious seeds and substandard agricultural inputs.

She also demanded better price support for farmers after harvest, saying government procurement centres should function effectively wherever required so that cultivators are not forced to depend on middlemen.

With the dry spell also affecting livestock, Ushasri Charan sought free supply of fodder to farmers who are struggling to afford it. She reiterated the demand for timely disbursal of Rythu Bharosa and Annadata Sukhibhava benefits, along with crop insurance compensation and input subsidies.

She said the YSRCP would continue to raise farmers’ concerns and press the government for measures to provide relief to the farming community.