Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka emphasized the government’s unwavering dedication to the Rythu Bharosa scheme, ensuring support for farmers despite financial constraints. On Sunday, he held a meeting at the Secretariat with Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao, Sridhar Babu, and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, members of the Rythu Bharosa sub-committee, to finalize policies for assisting farmers in the upcoming Yasangi (Rabi) crop season.
Bhatti Vikramarka assured that the government remains committed to fulfilling its election promise of delivering Rythu Bharosa to farmers. He stated that the Cabinet sub-committee had consulted farmers and gathered feedback from officials statewide, which would shape their decisions.
Key Achievements
The Congress government, in its first year, released Rythu Bharosa funds as input subsidies for Yasangi crops, depositing Rs 7,625 crore into farmers’ accounts. This support benefited 1.57 crore acres of farmland. Additionally, the government has taken the responsibility of paying crop insurance premiums on behalf of farmers.
Focusing on oil palm cultivation, the government aims to expand it to one lakh acres by 2024-25. For the 2023-24 financial year, the central government allocated Rs 80.10 crore under the oil palm scheme, with a total of Rs 133.5 crore after including the state’s contribution. Furthermore, the government is paying a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal to farmers cultivating fine rice varieties.
Boost to Agriculture
The state budget allocated Rs 72,659 crore to agriculture and allied sectors. Within just two months, loans up to Rs 2 lakh were waived for farmers, amounting to Rs 21,000 crore.
The government also resolved to fully operationalize Rythu Vedikas (farmers’ platforms) constructed during the previous administration. Bhatti Vikramarka announced the launch of the “Rythu Nestham” program, enabling video conferencing at 110 Rythu Vedikas to address farmers’ concerns. Over Rs 4 crore was spent on equipping these platforms with the necessary technology.
The Deputy CM reiterated the government’s strong commitment to improving farmers’ welfare and advancing Telangana’s agricultural sector.