Farmers’ Association Wants MSP Announced For Cocoa

KAKINADA: Andhra Pradesh Cocoa Farmers Association general secretary K. Srinivas demanded that the state government declare minimum support price (MSP) for cocoa beans. He underlined that cocoa farmers are experiencing difficulties due to the support price and lack of correct marketing channels.

Members of the association led by Srinivas visited cocoa fields at Pangidigudem village in Dwaraka Tirumala mandal of Eluru district on Thursday. They interacted with farmers to understand their problems regarding the sale of the cocoa beans they produce.

The association general secretary recalled that at a meeting in Eluru a month ago, Agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu had promised cocoa farmers that the state government would announce a price formula in the form of palm oil bundles. Srinivas demanded immediate implementation of the formula to save cocoa farmers.

Stating that although cocoa supply companies had announced a price of ₹ 300 per kg, they did not come forward to purchase the product at this price, he said that international prices had fallen due to the war in West Asia.

The general secretary of the association said that such attitude of companies is disgusting as the international market price of cocoa beans last year was ₹900 per kilo.

Srinivas alleged that the companies formed a union and cheated the farmers by trying to reduce cocoa prices below ₹300. He said companies were trying to exploit farmers as the state government remained silent on the cocoa pricing policy.

Andhra Pradesh Farmers Union district president Katta Bhaskara Rao and cocoa farmers leader Rudraraju Subbaraju observed that the Cocoa Pricing Policy Committee constituted by the state government has a disproportionately high number of representatives belonging to cocoa companies. This is why cocoa farmers are deprived of the minimum price for their products.

Among those present were cocoa farmers Kanumuri Bapiraju, Veeravalli Pandu, V. Siva Nagaraju and V. Mohan Rao.