Telangana’s Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has initiated a host of agricultural schemes which touch every aspect of the sector
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who was a farmer himself is a visionary. He successfully rolled out over 50 incentives and sops that have gone a long way in facilitating agriculture in the predominantly arid regions (without irrigation canals and agri motor run bore well farming) of Telangana .
Within a short period of four years, Rao has transformed the agriculture in Telangana into a profitable vocation and farmers have found in him a savior from suicides, cheating by dalals for their market produce, crop insurance and crop subsidy. “As a farmer myself, I know their pains, suffering and hurdles in farming and hence the government helps in holding the farmers hand in everything from backbone from sowing to final marketing of agriculture produce,” says Rao.
The farmer friendly measures like 24x7 free power, farm loan waiver and the latest Rythu bandhu, a farmer investment support scheme of Rs 4,000 per acre for per crops a year amounting Rs 8,000/- per acre directly into their accounts through cheques have catapulted Telangana as a top farmer friendly state in the country.
Recently as per the NITI Aayog’s Agriculture Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index, Telangana is ranked among the top 10 most farmer friendly states in the country. The state with 54.3 per cent weightage occupied the 9th position in the country in reforms for agricultural markets, land, forestry on private land, felling and transit of trees .
The salient features of the agriculture policy of the government include waiving off crop loans, according input subsidy, providing free and uninterrupted power, construction of godowns. Reforms and strategies were introduced to prevent migrations, increase farm production and for enhancing per capita income with advanced agricultural techniques
Telangana is first state in the country to allocate 26 per cent of its annual budget to agriculture and Rs 3,728 crores in 2018-19 for free power for agriculture and Rs 20,820.08 crores for agriculture and allied sectors, rural development, an increase of Rs 7,179 crores increased. Annually Rs 37, 968 crores is being allocated for agriculture which resulted in a record level 101.29 lakh metric tons of agricultural produce as against 100 lakh tones in 2017-18.
Minimum support price for the produce: To support MSP prescribed by central government the Telangana government allocated Rs 3,390 crores in the first year and subsequently Rs 3,397 crores and Rs 8,083 crores for purchase of produce at MSP from farmers. State Government has further decided to accord minimum price for the produce from 2018. The state government gave a subsidy of 50 per cent on tractors while waiving off transport tax on them.
Rythu Bazars: For the first time in the state a multi level Rythu Bazar with latest facilities has been established at a cost of 8.16 crores at Siddipet.
Saddi Muta scheme: Hygienic food at Rs 5 is being supplied to farmers in the name of Saddi Muta.
loan waiver: The Telangana government had waived the loans up to Rs one lakh for each farmer. In the first phase Rs 17,000 crore crops loans of 35.3 lakh farmers were waived off in four phases.
Timely supply of seeds and fertilisers: Telangana government took up measures to supply seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers.
The state government has also been giving Rs 6 lakh ex-gratia to the farmers who have committed suicides.
Seed Village Scheme: In villages government has introduced rural seed production scheme. In each village 25 farmers are considered as a single unit and seeds are supplied to the units at subsidised prices.
The government provided financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per acre to farmers for purchasing fertiliser. Every year before the Kharif and Rabi season, the amount will be paid directly to the farmers accounts by May end.
Farmer co ordination councils established: The government has set up farmer coordination councils in November to coordinate in respect of benefitting farmer to get a minimum support price for their produce.
Eradicate corruption and fake documents: To eradicate corruption, fake documents in registration, sale and purchase of lands, maintaining of the land records, transparency certain new reforms are being introduced.
Centres of Excellence: Two centres of excellence are being set up at Jeedimetla in Hyderabad and Mulugu (Medak dist) to help, educate and create awareness among the horticulture farmers about the new technologies and scientific methods.
Oil Palm Cultivation: Keeping in view the oil palm cultivation extension in Khammam, Bhadradri, Kothagudem districts, the milling capacity of oil fed factory has been increased from 30 tonnes to 60 tonnes per hour with investment of Rs 100 crore.
Soil tests: The Telangana state government is conducting soil tests to give technical advice to the farmers on what kind of crop they should glow in on their lands. This will be completed on 55.54 lakh units within two years.
Sada Bainama: The State government has decided to clear land disputes and rectify the land records. As part of this, it has brought in several reforms in Registration and Mutations. Sada Bainama (below 5 acres in rural areas) were registered free of cost.
Micro Irrigation:The Government has allocated Rs 287.24 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 127 cr in 2018-19 for micro irrigation programmes.
Drip Irrigation: The Government is giving subsidy for drip irrigation for up to five hectares (12.5 acres) land. For SCs/STs 100 per cent subsidy, for BCs, small land holders 90 per cent subsidy, others 80 per cent subsidy is accorded.
Green House: For the construction of Poly Houses, Green Houses 95 per cent subsidy is being given to SC/ST farmers and 75 per cent to others.
Subsidy on hybrid vegetable seeds: In order to promote horticulture with 50 per cent subsidy up to 2 hectares (for 5 acres Rs 6,000) subsidy is being provided for hybrid vegetables.
Farmers’ welfare is being promoted by the Telangana goverNment with 60 different schemes which are unique in every aspect and covered the farmer in all respects — agriculture operations, compensation for suicides, children's education , wedding, loan debts , insurance, women empowerment in villages, power to village homes and farming , digital solutions at door steps, health care and finally pensions after retirement.
Telangana farmer has suffered a lot since centuries. The Telangana government is striving to fulfill the hopes of every Telangana farmer for liberation from bondage of debts, social inequalities and capacity building for pursuing agriculture operations,” says the Chief Minister who is the brain child behind these agricultural reforms.