GUNTUR: In all, 29,031 red chilli growers are waiting for goverrnment subsidy. The subsidy scheme to chilli produce ended on June 30. The AP government offered Rs 1,500 per quintal assistance to red chilli growers and 55,578 red chilli growers were eligible to get the assistance. But 26,547 red chilli growers are yet to get the assistance despite selling their produce and are demanding sanctioning of the assistance.

As much as 14,01,798 quintals of chilli was purchased till June 30 in the chilli yard in which 8,52,457 quintals was purchased under price assistance scheme. As many as 55,578 chilli farmers sold chillis under the price assistance scheme and the government has to pay Rs 127.68 crore. The government paid Rs 59.81 crores to 26,547 chilli farmers and 29,031 chilli farmers are waiting for the price assistance amount. These chilli growers are seeking release of the price assistance to enable them to start cultivation in this kharif season.

Chilli growers K. Rama Rao and others said that they incurred huge losses due to poor demand to red chilli in the market this year. They lamented that they invested Rs 4,000 per quintal for red chilli cultivation but the price dropped to Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500 per quintal several times in the past two months. They said that they hoped about price assistance to help them to clear debts but despite submitting all required papers, still they did not receive the price assistance.

They said that they borrowed seeds and fertiliser so they have to clear the same to restart cultivation activity in this kharif season. Hence, the government should release the price assistance. Chilli yard chairman M. Subba Rao said that the chilli growers need not worry about the price assistance as it would be deposited in the bank accounts of beneficiary chilli farmers and they are taking all measures for the swift payment of the money.