Revanth Reddy follows KCR’s footsteps, insists on crop diversification

Highlights need to promote cultivation of commercial crops extensively across Telangana; calls for transformative change in crop pattern

Hyderabad: Following the footsteps of his predecessor K Chandrashekhar Rao, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday stressed on the need for crop diversification by adopting modern cultivation methods and technology.

There was a need to promote cultivation of commercial crops extensively in the State. There should be transformative change in crop pattern, he told farmers at a ‘Rythu Nestham’ programme here.

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Stating that ‘toor dal’ of Kodangal and Tandur had great demand across the country, the Chief Minister said the government would procure all stocks from farmers through procurement centres. He also urged the farming community to use solar power-based pump sets. The government was prepared to invest as it would help the farming community in increasing their savings, he said.

The Congress government always accorded top priority for farmers’ welfare and development. In the last 18 months, Rs.1 lakh crore was spent towards Rythu Bharosa, crop loan waiver, free power supply, Rythu Bima, procurement of farmers’ stocks and extension of bonus, he said.

Citing financial constraints, he said it was challenging to extend retirement benefits to government employees, fee reimbursement to students and implementation of Kalyana Lakshmi scheme. Amidst these challenges, the government had decided to extend nearly Rs 9,000 crore under Rythu Bharosa to 70 lakh farmers within nine days, the Chief Minister said.

Alleging that the opposition was desperate to dethrone the Congress government, he claimed that the opposition was not giving him time to set things right.