Telangana Irrigation and Marketing Minister Harish Rao has written to the Centre, seeking support for the State’s chilli farmers, who are facing falling prices due to over-production. In a letter to Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister, Rao highlighted the need to stabilise chilli prices in the State, where output has increased over 14 per cent.

This has led to prices dropping to ₹5,000-6,000 per quintal, against ₹10,000 last year.

Rao requested the Centre to extend 50 per cent assistance to the State under Market Intervention Fund, which could help the chilli farmers get a reasonable income. The fund infusion is expected to stabilise prices.