Extend input subsidy to tenant farmers, free seeds to farmers whose crops damaged: Harish

The former Minister said that the government had failed to release the input subsidy to farmers whose crops were damaged in 1,350 acres in the district during the last Yasangi

Siddipet: Former Minister T Harish Rao demanded the government to extend input subsidy to tenant farmers, whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Siddipet district.

Speaking to news reporters after examining the crops damaged due to rains at Rajagopalpet in Nanganur mandal on Saturday, Rao said that the Congress came to power assuring to provide Rythu Bharosa, Rythu Bheema and several other benefits to tenant farmers on par with the farmers.

However, he lashed out at the Congress government for failing to keep any of these promises even one and half year after they came to power. Rao also demanded the government to distribute free seeds to farmers, whose crops were damaged due to hail storms this year, for the coming Vanakalam season.

Accusing the government of lacking any commitment towards farming fraternity welfare, the former Minister said that the government had failed to release the input subsidy to farmers whose crops were damaged in 1,350 acres in the district during the last Yasangi. Though he raised the issue in the Assembly, he said that he could not find the right answer.

Rao said that the issuing of Rythu Bheema cheques have also remained pending for more than three months for reasons known to the government which the BRS government used to clear within a week after the death of farmers.

The former Minister said that the Rythu Bharosa and loan waiver remained pending for a major chunk of farmers. He said that the farmers in Nanganur mandal were worst affected with Thursday rains as crops on more than 5,000 acres were damaged in 11 villages out of 10,000 acres damaged in the entire district. Rao demanded the government to release input subsidies to farmers without any delay.