Agriculture Minister Tummala’s comments on Rythu Bharosa sparks fresh row

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao’s remarks have re-ignited a debate over the Rythu Bandhu scheme, stirring criticism on social media.

Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao’s recent remarks have re-ignited a debate over the Rythu Bandhu scheme, stirring criticism on social media. The Minister said the farmers (land owners) and tenant farmers should reach an understanding between themselves on sharing the benefit of Rythu Bharosa farm investment support provided by the State government.

This stance echoes Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s 2019 declaration that only land owners would receive Rythu Bandhu benefits, leaving tenant farmers dependent on landowners for any potential financial relief. He had suggested that land owners should share the support or reduce lease amounts with tenant farmers in a humane manner.

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However, the then TPCC president and current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had criticised Chandrashekhar Rao and vowed that if voted to power, the Congress government would not only enhance the investment support amount from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 per acre per annum, but also extend it to both land owners and tenant farmers. He also assured Rs.12,000 per annum to agricultural labourers.

After coming to power, the Congress government provided only Rs.5,000 per acre for the Yasangi (Rabi) season at the end of the crop season and was yet to provide the amount for Vanakalam (Kharif) season. With the Agriculture Minister’s comments, netizens are criticising the Congress for its contradictory statements with many accusing the party of deceiving farmers and changing its stance.