Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking urgent intervention to aid red chilli farmers in the Kalyana Karnataka region. The Chief Minister highlighted the severe crisis faced by lakhs of farmers due to a significant drop in prices.

In his letter, Siddaramaiah requested the implementation of the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Karnataka's red chilli farmers. He pointed out that a similar scheme had been approved for red chillies (Guntur variety) in Andhra Pradesh, with a Minimum Intervention Price (MIP) set at ₹11,781 per quintal, covering up to 25% of production. However, Karnataka's farmers continue to suffer without such support.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the cost of production for the Guntur variety of red chillies in Karnataka is ₹12,675 per quintal, yet farmers are forced to sell at prices as low as ₹8,300 per quintal. This disparity leads to substantial financial losses and threatens the livelihood of small and marginal farmers in the drought-prone Kalyana Karnataka region.

Siddaramaiah called for modifications to the existing scheme, including raising the MIP to ₹13,500 per quintal and expanding coverage to at least 75% of production. He also urged the Union Government to fully bear the cost of the PDP, which is currently shared between the Centre and the State.

The Chief Minister stressed that the price of red chillies is influenced by the Union Government's domestic and export policies, which affect market stability and farmer earnings. He urged the government to take immediate action to prevent further economic distress and potential debt crises among farmers.

By addressing these issues, Siddaramaiah hopes to bring meaningful relief to the red chilli farmers of Karnataka and ensure their survival in these challenging times.