Modernization of Agriculture…Crop Loan Waiver… Payment of Input subsidy ..... Statement by Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy In Legislative Assembly

Modernization of Agriculture…Crop Loan Waiver…

Payment of Input subsidy

Statement by Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy

In Legislative Assembly

21-12-2016

Telangana is a newly formed state. Agriculture is the main agenda of the State Government. Majority of the village population depends on agriculture for livelihood. The State Government is advocating modern agricultural practices for better yields, increased per capita income to prevent migration of farmers.

Farm Holdings:

Marginal….34.41 Lakhs; Small….13.27 lakhs; others…7.86 Lakhs and average farm holding size is 1.12 Hectares.

Soil Testing

Ø  Soil testing is being done and technical advice is given to the farmers for taking up suitable crops based on soil type. It has been planned to test the soils of all the 55 lakh holdings in two years by the State Government in coordination with Central Government.

Ø  During 2015-16, 5.00 lakh soil samples have been collected; analyzed and 21.63 lakh soil health cards have been distributed to farmers.

Ø  During 2016-17, the target for collection and analysis of soil samples is 5.34 lakhs. 4.14 lakhs soil samples are collected and 1.23 lakh soil health cards are printed and distributed to the farmers.

Ø  There are 44 Soil Testing Laboratories in the State. Out of these, 28 labs are in AMC premises and there are 4 Mobile Soil Testing labs. Funds are released to strengthen these labs.

Strengthening of Administration in Agriculture Department

The agricultural extension was neglected by earlier governments. The extension functionaries were scarce in number to extend farm advisories to farmers. Now, the Telangana Government, with the initiative of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, has taken suitable steps to appoint additional 1000 Agricultural Extension Officers to ensure one Agricultural Extension Officer for every 5000 acres of area so as to provide proper and timely farm advisories to the farmers.

After formation of new districts in the State, steps have been taken to appoint  District Agriculture Officer for every district, Assistant Director of Agriculture for every Assembly constituency, Mandal Agricultural Officer for every mandal and one Agricultural Extension Officer for every 5000 acres.

Farm Mechanization

Keeping in view of the increased cost of cultivation, the Government of Telangana is implementing Farm Mechanization Scheme to reduce cost of cultivation and to increase productivity by supplying modern agricultural machinery / implements to farmers.

Under this scheme, higher subsidies are being extended. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has ordered to extend 100% subsidy on supply of farm implements to the neglected sectors i.e. SC, ST farmers. 50% subsidy is also provided to other farmers. Fewer subsidies were given on farm machinery / implements to the farmers by earlier governments.

Crop Loans

State level and district level bankers committee meetings are being organized for ensuring timely availability of crop loans. The bank loans are provided as per the Scale of Finance.

Vaddileni Runalu and Pavala Vaddi

The Government of Telangana is paying the interest to the banks in respect of the loans up to one lakh availed by the farmers provided the farmers repay the loans within one year meaning that Interest Free Loans are provided to the farmers up to one lakh.  

For the loans from one lakh to Three Lakhs, the farmer is required to pay only Pavala Vaddi provided the farmer repays the loan within one year and the remaining interest is borne by the Government.

Crop Loan Waiver

The Government of Telangana is implementing crop loan waiver scheme unlike any other states in the country for the benefit of the farmers. 35.30 lakh farmers have been benefitted with a loan waiver up to Rs. One Lakh. As on date, the Government of Telangana has released and credited Rs.12105.16 crores into the farmers’ accounts in three installments.

Government has assured the bankers for payment of fourth installment of crop loan waiver amount, so that farmers can renew their loans and take fresh loans.

Earlier, centre and some states allowed loan waiver in respect of overdue accounts only whereas Government of Telangana has extended loan waiver scheme in case of over dues and present dues.

Input Subsidy

Whenever farmer sustains crop losses due to natural calamities, input subsidy is being provided to ease the financial burden of the farmer enabling them to procure inputs for subsequent crops.

Immediately after formation of the State of Telangana, the Government of Telangana has cleared the pending input subsidy since 2009 to an extent of Rs.48043 lakhs and credited into the farmers accounts.

The Telangana Government has released input subsidy Rs.82186.45 lakhs towards subsequent natural calamities also. The distribution is under progress.

Supply of Seeds on subsidy

The Government is ensuring timely supply of seeds in sufficient quantities to the farmers.

Earlier, the seed supply used to be made through one center in a mandal. As a result, the farmers used to stay in queues for hours and days together. There are instances where the farmers experienced lathi charges as well.

The Government of Telangana has taken up supply of seed on subsidy through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies which are at close accessibility to the farmers.

The seeds of new varieties of different crops are being supplied to the farmers for better yields.

As per the orders of Hon’ble Chief Minister, steps are being taken up to encourage seed production and also to create avenues for seed export by way of transforming Telangana as Seed Bowl.

Action on Spurious Seeds

The Government of Telangana is taking deterrent actions on the seed companies who are indulging in production and supply of spurious seeds. For instance, in Khammam, Warangal, Nalgonda and Jogulamba Gadwall districts the following actions have been taken against the company personnel who have resorted to spurious seed supply.

135 dealer licenses, 9 centralized seed licenses have been cancelled. 17 criminal cases have been booked. Apart from these, 5 cases have been booked and 5 company personnel have been jailed under PD Act which was never witnessed in the state’s history.

In addition, Rs.1,57,65,000/- compensation has been arranged to 2556 farmers from the companies.

Supply of Fertilizers

The required quantities of all types of fertilizers for Kharif and yasangi seasons are made available for farmers. The Government is arranging fertilizers for the farmers through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies to relieve them from the hardships which they had experienced during the tenure of previous governments.

TS MARKFED is appointed as Nodal agency for supply of fertilizers to the farmers directly through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies.

To improve the Nitrogen Use Efficiency, the application of Neem coated Urea is being promoted.

Advisories are provided to the farmers to use fertilizers based on soil health recommendations.

Power Supply

Thousands of electric motors and transformers of farmers used to be burnt due to short supply of electric power as they were not concentrated by earlier government. Now, such incidents are not there s a result of quality power being supplied.

Minimum support Price

The procurement centers are being made available with a view to ensure minimum support price for the produce of different crops. Farmers can store their produce in the godowns till they get good price under Rytu Bhandu scheme and can avail 75 % of the cost of produce as interest free loans (up to 6 months) to a maximum of Rupees two lakhs.

As of now, the godowns of 4 lakh metric tons capacity only were existing. There used to be no available space for the farmers to store their produce. Telangana Government having recognized the needs of farmers is establishing17 LMTs capacity godowns with Rs.1024 crores expenditure during these two years. As a result, a total of 21.50 LMTs capacity godowns are going to be made available in the state.

Crop Insurance Scheme

Telangana Government has submitted a proposal with due consent of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council to the central government to consider farmer as a unit in implementing Insurance scheme. No state in the country made this effort. Under Pradhana Mantri Phasal Bhim Yojana, the losses due to hail storm, inundation of crops and post harvest losses are being covered and Insurance is being paid to the individual farmers. As a part of this scheme, the Village as a unit is taken for principal crop of a district and for other crops; mandal / group of mandals are taken as units for implementing of this scheme. This scheme applies to both loanee and non-loanee farmers.

Mission Kakatiya

Realizing the need of the farmers, tanks which are not rejuvenated since years, are being rejuvenated under Mission Kakatiya programme as per orders of Honorable Chief Minister.

Previously, to rejuvenate a single tank, it used to take a year. Now 16000 tanks are being rejuvenated with an expenditure of 4000 crores.

To provide a permanent solution for the drought, specific interest in re-designing the projects was taken by  Hon’ble Chief Minister, with a view to provide irrigation to one crore acres involving a cost of Rs.1,50,000 crores.

Information and Communication Technology

Agriculture information through internet (AGRISNET)

            The modern agricultural technology is being made available to the farmers through the media like internet so as to ensure speedy and effective reach to the farmers. G2B, G2G, G2 C / F services are being provided through NeGPA.

            The licenses to the input dealers are being issued through Online License Management System thereby establishing transparency in licensing system.

The farm mechanization scheme is also being implemented through online system and data base of famers’ information is being maintained.