Kharif relief may be given in June

Govt plans to achieve 6 pc overall growth in farm sector

H Venkatesh

Hyderabad : With a focus on to achieve a target of 20 per cent rise in the total production, the government is planning to achieve 6 per cent overall growth in the agriculture sector this year against the 5.28 per cent last year. While the agriculture sector is expecting about 191 lakh tonnes of yield for Kharif season during 2013-14, the actual target is put at 224 lakh tonnes.

Sources said that the agriculture sector, which was recently hit by unseasonal rains, hailstorm and drought, is expecting a slight reduction in the total yield this year. They say that the agriculture sector saw a production of 204 lakh tonnes of yield during 2008-09, while it was reported at 203 lakh tonnes during 2010-11.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy gave his nod reportedly for releasing a total of Rs 2,100 crore, including Rs 1,934 crore for Kharif relief, which had been pending since 2008-09. Besides Kharif relief, the rest of the amount would be given to allied sectors like poultry, horticulture, fisheries, roads and buildings department, etc. A drought relief of Rs 1,816 crores was released during 2011.

The decision to release funds assumes significance in wake of criticism that the government miserably failed to give pending Kharif relief. The government plans to achieve a hike of about 20 per cent in the target yield this year.A Admitting the delay in Kharif relief, sources said that the government has already given input subsidy to the farmers last year which was increased from Rs 6,500 per acre to Rs 10,000. Keeping all the issues in view the government wants to release the Kharif relief in June, sources revealed.

To ensure a production rise to some extent and help farmers get a minimum support price for their crop, the government's ambitious program-"Rythu Chaitanya Yatra"-which began on April 22 at Jadcherla in Mahbubnagar will continue till May 8 in all districts.

As part of this yatra, Kharif Regional Conference was conducted to take stock of the Kharif relief and the necessary measures are being taken up. Besides financial assistance, the farmers would be advised on better cultivation practices, mechanisation, seed quality, fertilisers and would be discouraged on 'mono cropping' in the field as that would lead to a reduced yield.

Joint teams of district level officials involving other departments have so far visited 50,000 habitations as part of the Rythu Chaitanya Yatra, followed by Rythu Sadassulu to provide adequate information on better and modern cultivation practices and encouraging multiple farming.

A study has also been conducted by the Directorate of Statistics and Economics on the requirements of agriculture sector. After a meeting held with disaster management officials, the government is now gearing up to provide adequate succour to those farmers who became victims of natural calamities, crop loss and reduction in yield.