HYDERABAD: The Jaganmohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government released the third tranche of ‘YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan’ of Rs 1,120 crore, along with the compensation of Rs 646 crore input subsidy for crops damaged during ‘Cyclone Nivar’. The government had depositeda total of Rs 1,766 crore in the farmers’ accounts.
The farmers across the state have suffered crop loss in 12.01 lakh acres due to the cyclone, affecting 8.34 lakh farmers in November. Looking back at the year round up in the agriculture sector, the farmers have suffered crop damages from June to November this year. The Jagan government had spent Rs 914 crore to assist 12 lakh farmers who suffered crop loss in 16.48 lakh acres.
In a significant outreach to farmers, the AP government is procuring damaged, discoloured, and sprouted paddy by easing certain restrictions. Besides providing input subsidy to farmers, the government is also distributing seeds at 80% subsidy to help farmers restart agricultural operations. The government has already distributed 35,700 quintals of paddy, Bengal gram, and groundnut seeds.
A total of Rs 136 crore has been issued by the state government as input subsidy on October 27 for the crops damaged from June to September 2020, Rs132.63 crore has been released on November 17 for crop damage in October and Rs 646 crore has been released for crop damage today.
CM Jagan has vowed to focus on farmers, as promised in the manifesto. The government is providing all the support to farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme starting with financial assistance of Rs 13,500. The first tranche of Rs 7,500 was deposited in the farmers’ accounts on May 15 at the beginning of the kharif season and the second tranche of Rs 4,000 was disbursed on October 27. The remaining Rs 2,000 is now being given in third instalments. Speaking on the progress made by the government in the agriculture sector across the state, CM Jagan said that his is a government that believes in extending as much support and a helping hand to distressed farmers in the state.
Criticising the TDP government over its incompetence towards farmer’s welfare, CM said, “According to the RBI, the previous government had earlier promised that they would waive Rs 87,612 crore loans to farmers, but hardly spent Rs 12,000 crore on farmers’ distress. A lot of arrears have been evaded, be it grains, seeds, insurance and electricity arrears. Eventually, 434 farmers have committed suicide due to misery. Our government today has compensated for the losses incurred.”