No Rythu Bandhu, No Bharosa: Dark days for Telangana farmers as Rabi season approaches

Farmers believe that the government should have prioritized the continuation of the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, even if it meant deferring the crop loan waiver initiative, which also has not been fully implemented yet

Hyderabad: As the Kharif 2024 season comes to a close without any financial assistance under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, and the farmers in Telangana are increasingly anxious about the upcoming Rabi season. The pressing question on their minds: will the Rabi season also proceed without the crucial support that has been provided since 2018? The government is yet to clarify whether it will continue with the existing support of Rs.5,000 per acre per crop season under Rythu Bandhu or introduce the enhanced assistance of Rs.15,000 per acre under the Rythu Bharosa Scheme as promised by the Congress party. This ambiguity is a source of concern among the farming community, who rely heavily on these funds for their initial investment in seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs.

Farmers believe that the government should have prioritized the continuation of the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, even if it meant deferring the crop loan waiver initiative, which also has not been fully implemented yet. The lack of financial support during the Kharif season has already strained their resources, and the possibility of facing a similar situation in the Rabi season is adding to their distress.The estimated minimum investment required for Rabi crop preparatory operations ranges from Rs.4,000 to Rs.6,000 per acre. This includes essential costs for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and labour. Without the timely release of Rythu Bandhu funds, many farmers have been forced to turn to money lenders, raising concerns about the long-term impact of private borrowing on their financial stability.

---

The government’s silence on this issue has left farmers in a state of limbo, struggling to plan their agricultural activities. The farming community urges the authorities to expedite their decision-making process to ensure timely support for the Rabi season, preventing further economic hardships and securing the agricultural productivity of the region.The crop investment support was extended for eleven trenches with unfailing regularity during the BRS regime. The Congress Party, after it came to power, had disbursed only the Rythu Bandhu assistance for the Rabi 2023 which could not be disbursed by the previous government with the election code coming into force in December 2023, and particularly after the Congress complained against disbursal of the amount ahead of the elections.

The crop investment assistance during the BRS government benefitted 65 lakh to 70 lakh farmers in the State. However, how many of them would merit consideration for the next round of crop investment assistance is yet to be finalised.