Farmers’ body seeks ₹500 bonus per quintal for paddy

The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham has demanded that the State government announce a bonus of ₹500 per quintal for paddy, citing rising input costs and inadequate returns for farmers.

Eluru district secretary of the Sangham, K. Srinivas, made the demand during a visit to paddy procurement yards at Pothunuru village in Denduluru mandal on Sunday. Inspecting the harvested grain, he said the Minimum Support Price of ₹2,369 per quintal announced by the Centre is not remunerative in view of the increasing cost of cultivation. He noted that States such as Kerala are offering higher incentives, including a bonus of about ₹900 per quintal, and urged Andhra Pradesh to adopt a similar approach.