Switch over to profitable, commercial crops: Niranjan Reddy tells farmers
Yadadri-Bhongir: Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy on Friday said farmers have been expressing gratitude to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for his pro-farmer policies including Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima.
Participating in Rythu Bandhu celebrations at a ginning mill in Alair, Niranjan Reddy said that Rythu Bandhu, under which investment support of Rs 10,000 per acre per year is provided to farmers, has helped in restoring the past glory to the agriculture sector besides improving the incomes of farmers. “The UN, financial experts and agriculture scientists have termed Rythu Bandhu scheme as a game changer. Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima are the model schemes for other States to emulate for the welfare of farmers,” he added.
Depositing Rs 50,600 crore in the bank accounts of the farmers under Rythu Bandhu in eight phases indicated the commitment of the State government to the implementation of the scheme, he said, adding that in all, 1.45 cr acres of agriculture land was covered under Rythu Bandhu.
The State government, he said, was also providing free electricity supply to 30 lakh agriculture pump-sets that costs the exchequer Rs 10,000 crore annually.
Recalling that the cotton growers in Telangana faced the worst time in united Andhra Pradesh, he said they are now getting Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 per quintal for the crop. Stating that cotton grown in Telangana State has good demand in international market, he asked the farmers to take up the cultivation of cotton based on the nature of soil.
The Minister asked the farmers to switch over to cultivation of commercial crops to earn more profits. He reminded that 70 per cent of the people were dependent on agriculture for livelihood. “The State government is committed to providing irrigation facility to one crore acres of land as decided in the first Cabinet meeting,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister had brought in revolutionary changes in all sectors which provided employment opportunities for the youth.
Government Whip Gongidi Sunitha, DCCB Chairman Gongidi Mahender Reddy and others were present.
Earlier, the Agriculture Minister also participated in Rythu Bandhu celebrations held at Rythu Vedika in Muthireddigudem in the district.
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