Input subsidy enhanced for farming community, says Minister N Amaranatha Reddy.

Chittoor: To protect the interests of farmers, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has taken an historical decision in enhancing the input subsidy from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre for damaged groundnut crop, according to Industries Minister N Amaranatha Reddy. Those farmers whose groundnut crop was damaged due to long dry spell would be covered under the input subsidy programme, he added.

The Minister inaugurated an Anganwadi Centre building at Alwarpalli village in Palamaner mandal on Thursday. Interacting with farmers, he stated the State government is committed for welfare of farmers.

The government decided to remit Rs 15,000 per acre as input subsidy, he stated and added Rs 180 crore of input subsidy for the year 2017-18 would be credited to the accounts of 1.2 lakh farmers very soon.

Referring to the implementation of micro irrigation, the Minister said that drip and sprinklers would be given to the farmers with 90 per cent subsidy while the SC, ST farmers would be given free of cost.

The Minister has made an appeal to change their crop pattern in view of the recurring drought conditions in the district. He advised farmers to adopt latest technologies in farming. The TDP leaders R V Subhash Chandra Bose, Hemanth Kumar, Ramachandra and others were present.