Centre positive on extending relief to tobacco, aqua farmers, says Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu

Atchannaidu.

| Photo Credit: File Photo

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu on Wednesday said the Centre responded positively to the State government’s proposals aimed at addressing the problems faced by tobacco and aquaculture farmers.He expressed confidence that announcements on reducing GST on unmanufactured tobacco and extending financial assistance to tobacco growers would be made soon.Addressing a press conference at the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri, Mr. Atchannaidu said he had met Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajiv Ranjan Singh in New Delhi on the directions of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.He said the State had sought a reduction in GST on raw tobacco and financial assistance of ₹15 per kg for farmers from the Tobacco Board’s cess fund.“The Centre has also responded favourably to proposals aimed at reducing aquaculture feed costs by retaining more domestically produced fish meal and fish oil for local use,” he said.Mr. Atchannaidu said the government had urged major tobacco companies to procure the entire crop from farmers and claimed the companies had agreed.Launching a political attack, Mr. Atchannaidu accused YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of exploiting the problems of tobacco and aquaculture farmers for political mileage. He alleged that the recent interactions organised by the YSRCP leader largely involved party workers rather than genuine farmers, and urged people not to be misled by political campaigns. Published - July 22, 2026 09:27 pm IST