CM KCR declared that all the farmers in the State would be given financial assistance under Rythu Bandhu Scheme

CM KCR declared that all the farmers in the State would be given financial assistance under RythuBandhu Scheme from Monday (Dec 28) to January 2021. The CM held a review on the RythuBandhu financial assistance on Sunday at PragathiBhavan. The CM announced that Rs 7515 Crore financial assistance is given to 1.52 crore acres of the cultivated land of 61.49 Lakh farmers at the rate of Rs 5000 per acre for the 2020 summer season. The CM has instructed the officials concerned to ensure that every farmer get the assistance in his bank account directly for each acre.

 

An extensive discussion took place at the review meeting on purchase of various crops, regulated farming policy, sale and purchase of agriculture produce in the markets, responsibilities of the RythuBandhuSamithies, utilisation of RythuVedikas, keeping the required seed and fertilisers in adequate quantity available on time, transfer of the required technology knowledge to the farmers and other related issues.  Ministers Sri KT Rama Rao, Sri S Niranjan Reddy, RythuBandhu State President Sri PallaRajeshwar Reddy, State Planning Commission Vice Chairman Sri Vinod Kumar, Government’s Chief Advisor Sri Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Sri Somesh Kumar, Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Sri Janardhan Reddy, Agriculture University Vice Chancellor Sri Praveen Rao, Director (Marketing) MsLaxmiBai, ADA Sri Vijay Kumar, MLA Sri PeddiSudarshan Reddy and others participated.

 

The officials said that even since the Telangana State was formed, the government had incurred heavy losses due to purchase of various crops by the state government.  They said till date the government had incurred losses to the tune of Rs 7,500 Crore due to the purchase of Paddy, Sorghum, Maize, Redgram, Bengal Gram and sunflower. Though the government had purchased these agriculture produce by paying the Minimum Support Price (MSP), it had to sell them at the lower prices in the market, as there was no demand for these crops. They said the same situation is cropping up every year. They said by purchasing Paddy alone the government suffered loss of Rs 3935 Crore. Corn Rs 1547.59 Crore, Sorghum Rs 52.78 Crore, RedgramRs 413.48 Crore, Red Sorghum Rs 52.47 Crore, Black Gram Rs 9.23 Crore, Bengal Gram Rs 108.07 Crore, Sunflower Rs 14.25 Crore losses suffered by the government. Besides this, wages paid to Hamalis, and other administrative expenses, the total loss is Rs 7,500 Crore, the officials explained.

 

“Due to the Corona pandemic, the government had set up purchasing centres in the village itself and purchased the agriculture produce on a humanitarian consideration that farmers should not suffer losses. It is not possible to do the same thing every time. The government is not a business organisation or trader. It is not a rice miller or a Dal miller. Sale and purchase is not the responsibility of government. It is not possible to set up purchase centre in the village from next year onwards. The new Farm Laws being implemented in the country allowed  the farmers to sell their crop anywhere. Hence, the state government need not set purchase centre in the villages and as there is no need. But sale and purchase at the Agriculture markets should be done properly. Farmers should not get their produce at one time to the markets instead they should get them in phased manner and on turns. RythuBandhu Samithies, Marketing Committees, Agriculture extension officers should work in coordination and decide which village produces should come to market on which day. Issue tokens accordingly. It will be convenient for the farmers to get his produce on the appointed day. Implement this policy strictly,” the participants at the review meeting unanimously stated.

 

“Agriculture is being extended rapidly in the Telangana State. The Agriculture department is doing many works. The agriculture officers have many responsibilities to manage. The agriculture officers are monitoring extending financial assistance through RythuBandhu twice a year. They have to implement RythuBhima strictly. When the RythuBhima scheme started Rs 630 Crore was paid as the installment. But many farmers have registered their land among their family members so that they are all covered by the RythuBhima policy. Hence the number swelled. The premium doubled and the year’s installment is Rs 1,144 Crore. But yet the state government has decided to continue the scheme. Agriculture officers are monitoring the RythuBhima policy implementation. 24x7 free power supply should also be continued. The officers have to ensure that the farmers are getting the quality seed, fertilisers, and pesticides. They have to identify the spurious seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides and control them. They have to develop new variety of seeds. They have to give modern and Techonology to the farmers. Since there is a steep increase in the availability of irrigation eater, cultivation also increased. The agriculture department had to do many works and they have to monitor them with dedication and commitment,” the review meeting opined.

 

“RythuVedikas are being constructed all over the State. Farmers and officers should meet regularly at the Vedikas. They should discuss and decide on which crops they should cultivate based on the market conditions. They have to formulate strategies from time to time on how to get the MSP. Henceforth, it is better if the State government stops advising the farmers on what crops they should cultivate and where? The government should forthwith stop issuing guidelines on the crops to be cultivated. There is no need for the Regulatory Farming policy. Farmers should decide by themselves what crops they should cultivate. They should sell their produce wherever it gets a more price. And this policy is good,” the meeting extensively opined.

-Press note