Vizianagaram: Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha on Monday pledged to support sugarcane farmers in Vizianagaram district, where the closure of multiple sugar factories has led to a decline in cultivation. During a district development review meeting at the Collector’s office, Ms. Anitha, who also serves as the in-charge Minister for Vizianagaram, acknowledged the concerns of local leaders and farmers about the impact of the closures, reports The Hindu.
Addressing the gathering, she said the shutdown of sugar mills had left farmers with few options to sell their produce, prompting many to stop growing sugarcane altogether. Local leaders, including Minister for MSME Kondapalli Srinivas and Vizianagaram MP Kalisetti Appala Naidu, highlighted how the situation had worsened due to the added cost of transporting sugarcane to the Sankili factory in neighboring Srikakulam district.
“The burden of transport costs is discouraging farmers from continuing sugarcane cultivation,” they told the Minister.
In response, Ms. Anitha assured that the government would take steps to revive sugarcane farming in the upcoming kharif season. She instructed agricultural officials to ensure that quality seeds and fertilizers are available at fair prices and warned against their overpricing in the open market.
She also emphasized the government’s commitment to improving irrigation infrastructure across the district to boost agricultural output. “The development of canals linked to all irrigation projects will be prioritized to increase cultivable land,” she said.
Several MLAs, including Kondru Murali (Rajam), Kolla Lalitha Kumari (S. Kota), and Baby Nayana (Bobbili), urged the Minister to create a follow-up mechanism to ensure decisions made in district review meetings are implemented effectively.
District Collector B.R. Ambedkar informed the Minister that steps had already been taken to address drinking water issues in Vizianagaram city and nearby areas. He added that alternative supply arrangements were in place to ensure adequate water availability for residents.
