Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi Corporation : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Telangana Rashtra Rythu 

Samanvaya Samithi Corporation

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao 

Government of Telangana on 22^nd February 2018 established the “Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi” as a corporation and issued modalities of the corporation through a Government Order (GOMS Number 26).

He preamble of the Government Order mentioned:

“Telangana is an important Agricultural state in the country growing various agricultural and Horticultural crops and hence Government decided to establish a new corporation under the tittle ‘Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi’ for speedy development of agriculture sector”. 

“The Samithi would plan for the welfare of the farming community in the state by increasing production and productivity of various crops and ensuring better prices to the farmers. The Samithi would also plan for better performance of Agriculture sector and for inclusive growth which is very vital for this agriculturally important state and in view of the immense resources that are available.  This will be a concrete step for brining in the second green revolution in the state”.

“It is also observed that every year when the seasonal conditions are favorable and bumper crop is expected the prices go down to less than the MSP fixed by GOI, with the result government has to intervene and take up large operations of procurement in the state in coordination with GOI and its organizations. Whenever the market prices go below the MSP, the Government has to intervene and make MSP operations involving various functionaries. Therefore, Government has decided to establish the ‘Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi’ to promote procurement, storage, processing and marketing of agriculture and horticultural crops and their products with the objective of ensuring remunerative prices or better prices to the farmers”.

Elaborating the scope of the Corporation the Government Order stated that, “the state is having huge areas under Paddy, Maize, Pulses and Oilseeds etc. with suitable soils and climate conditions. The Samithi will plan for establishment of Crop Colonies to increase production and productivity. The state has also tremendous potential for development of horticultural crops and it has vast areas under fruits like mango, citrus, vegetables, poly house cultivation and spices like turmeric and chilies. The Samithi will assess the state input requirements and plan for effective supply and distribution in the state. The Samithi shall organize trainings, field visits of farmers and staff to other states and market yards for exposure. With a view to increase the reach of Farm Mechanization especially to small and marginal farmers will improve the Farm Power availability per hectare thereby reducing the cost of cultivation”.

The Government Order further stated that, “the Samithi will enlist cooperation of International, National scientists and experts and various ICAR institute and Universities and invite them for periodic consultation and improve planning for development of agriculture. It will enter into MoUs with various organizations and Universities International and National in the field of Agriculture, Horticulture etc. It will organize and arrange exposure visits to farmers and extension staff with in the state and outside the state also. With a view to build a prosperous and sustainable agriculture sector in the state the FPOs/FPCs will be promoted by the Samithi to enable farmers to enhance productivity through efficient cost effective and sustainable resource use and realize higher returns for their produce. The Samithi will strive for strengthening of cooperative organizations and Farmers training organizations and centers etc.”

The Government Order also stated that, “The Agriculture and Horticulture Departments shall promote Agriculture and Horticulture crops by providing extension services. Once the farmers produce crops and when there is fluctuation in the prices i.e.; less than MSP fixed by GOI the Corporation will intervene and make arrangements for procuring the produce and provide minimum support price to the farmers. Assess areas and production of crops each season in coordination with Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Agriculture and Horticulture. Universities and concerned Departments for taking up procurement operations. The Corporation shall also facilitate the Post-Harvest Management like processing, value addition and marketing of such produce to minimize the losses and enhance the income of the farmers. The corporation role starts from right production of crops to the procurement operations post-harvest operations like Grading, Processing and Packing for local use and also for export market. The Corporation also deals with all loans linked schemes such as construction of Godowns, Cold Storages, Pack Houses and establishment of Outlets”.

Elaborating the scope further the GO stated that, “The Agriculture and Horticulture Departments shall aim at self-sufficiency of crops and whereas corporation aims at processing and sales in local market and export market. Both the Department and Corporation shall work in close coordination, cooperation in production and processing respectively. The Corporation shall also coordinate and converge among all important stake holders within the Government and outside the Government. The Corporation shall take up State-of-the-Art infrastructure in taking up the end requirements of the farmers, consumers and exporters. The Corporation shall explore the possibilities of collaboration with private industries in PPP mode. Motivating and Organizing the Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations in Crop colonies will also be done by Samithi. It will also Organize interactions of farmers with private stake holders and trade bodies. It Explores possibilities of exports to other states and countries.

The Objectives of the Corporation broadly are:

·       To ensure minimum support price and remunerative price to the farmers by intervening as and when necessary which will improve over all income of the farmers.

·       To promote the availability of clean and safe (un-adulterated) agricultural food products directly to the people for their daily consumption.

·       To work in consultation and in coordination with departments of Horticulture, Agriculture and other allied departments, MGNREGS, Marketing, and corporations like MARKFED, AGROSO, SWC, OILFED, TSSDC etc. and other related and relevant Government organizations.

·        To take up the Post-Harvest interventions like godowns, pack houses, cold storages and total supply chain management from the farmer to the final consumer.

·       To explore the possibilities of collaboration with private industries and existing food parks in PPP mode.

·       To export agriculture products to neighboring states and other countries.

·       To take up the promotion of its own outlets, if necessary.

·       To promote Agriculture produce by taking up value addition activities such as Grading, Processing, Packing, Marketing of the finished commodities particularly by establishing a special brand of its own.

·       To organize and promote Farmers Producer Organizations and Farmer Producer Companies to strengthen the pre-harvesting and post- harvesting interventions.

·         Through market led extension to facilitate development of appropriate market intelligence, capacity building and supply chain management.

Against this background the Government has accorded permission for formation and registration of new company as a nonprofit organization under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 under the title “Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi”.  

The authorized share capital shall be a minimum of Rs.200 Crores.

Earlier in the day Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announced his decision to form a new Corporation under the name Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi (Telangana State Farmers Coordination Committee). CM said that the proposed Corporation would help in reaching various measures initiated and implemented by the government for agriculture development and farmers welfare to the grass roots and at the field level. He made it clear that the proposed Corporation will be a non-profit organisation and the funds allocated for it will be used for the purpose for which the corporation is established. The CM held a review meeting on the formation of farmers coordination committees, their duties and responsibilities as well as on the regional conferences to be held on February 25 and 26.

The CM made it clear that the Coordination Committees will have their duties and responsibilities to play an active role in the agriculture operations from sowing the seed to selling the produce at MSP. He said at least 51 percent of these Committees would be filled up by farmers from the weaker sections and women. CM further said that all over the state 2630 Farmers platforms will be constructed one per every 5,000 acres for the farmers to organise their meetings, discussions, and exchange of views with one another.