Centre praises TS Govt's agricultural schemes

Hyderabad: The Union Agriculture Ministry has appreciated and hailed the Telangana State Government's innovative agriculture schemes like Rythu Bandhu and formation of Rythu Samanvaya Samithies. It has a word of appreciation for several schemes like Rythu Bandhu, which are being implemented in the State.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar held a video conference on Thursday with several Chief Ministers and Agriculture Ministers from the states. He has sought opinion on the Centre's proposed Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme from the State governments. In this context, Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal spoke on various developments, which are taking place in the agriculture sector in the country. In his Power Point Presentation, he made specific and special reference to Rythu Bandhu Scheme and Rythu Samanvaya Committees in the Telangana State. Agarwal said that the Rythu Bandhu scheme proved to be very beneficial to farmers and appreciated several other programmes and schemes which are being successfully implemented in Telangana state. He explained that the Telangana state government itself had initiated Rythu Bandhu Samithies, which resulted in establishing and expanding a large network of farmers in the State. He said with this network, schemes like the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund can be successfully and effectively implemented.

Since Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had a meeting with the NABARD Chairman, on his behalf, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy participated. He made several suggestions on behalf of Telangana State.

"The Telangana State government welcomes the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme. We are hopeful that such a scheme would help develop the agriculture sector and get more investments into the sector. It is proposed that the Centre will bear 3 percent of the interest levied on the loans taken to invest in the agriculture sector. But it is better if there is no interest levied on the investments in the agriculture sector. If interest free loans are given, more and more investments can come into the sector," Niranjan Reddy suggested to the Union Minister.

"The Telangana state government under the guidance of CM KCR is implementing several programmes in the State to develop the agri sector and for welfare of farmers in the State. We are extending Rs 7000 Crore to 58 Lakh farmers for every crop as financial input under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme. From village to state level, all over the State Rythu Bandhu Samithies were formed. There are 1.65 Lakh heads of the Samithies. Every 5000 acres had been made into a cluster and one Agriculture Extension Officer was appointed to each Cluster. With this a huge farmers network was created all over the State. With irrigation water facilities increase and the pro farmers policies of the government the extent of land under cultivation has increased leaps and bounds. Compared to last year, the increase was 39 per cent more. As on date cultivation is taking place in 1.36 Crore acres. Another four to five lakh acres will be added in the coming days. In Telangana state where the agriculture operations are on the high scale, the centre should supply the required fertilisers especially Urea to the state," Niranjan Reddy asked the union minister.

"The Centre made an announcement that it would bring reforms in the maintenance of agriculture markets. We need clarity on what kind of reforms are expected. Hundreds of markets Committees are successfully working in the Telangana State.

The Pension scheme is being implemented to employees of the market committees and also to those who retired. Works are going on to improve the infrastructure facilities at the markets. We need a clarification on what will happen to these works if the Centre comes out with reforms?" Niranjan Reddy asked.

Rythu Bandhu state President Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Principal Secretary to Agriculture Janardhan Reddy also participated in the conference.