Telangana: Rythu Bharosa only for land holdings where crops are raised

According to the new guidelines that are in consideration, Rythu Bharosa assistance is proposed to be restricted to only the land holdings where farmers raise crops.

Hyderabad: The State government, if it proceeds with implementing the enhanced crop investment assistance of Rs 7,500 per acre per crop season, may require approximately Rs 6,000 crore only for the rabi (Yasangi) season. According to the new guidelines that are in consideration, Rythu Bharosa assistance is proposed to be restricted to only the land holdings where farmers raise crops. It would, be leaving around 75,000 to 80,000 acres of net area under Yasangi crop, that will be eligible for consideration of the enhanced assistance.

The area under Yasangi crops will be relatively lesser compared to the Kharif season, which typically covers between 1.15 crore and 1.30 crore acres, depending on water availability and monsoon support. The budget required to pay Rs 7,500 per acre for 80 lakh acres during the rabi season would amount to only Rs 6,000 crore or even less.

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In districts where farmers are lacking in assured irrigation support, the possibility of raising rabi crops is remote. Approximately 30% of the area previously (during Kharif) used for paddy cultivation remains fallow during Rabi (Yasangi), translating to around 16 lakh hectares of uncultivated land.

Farmers often opt for strategic cropping of chickpea, black gram, and green gram during rabi, which can be economically beneficial for them in the long run as it would help improve soil fertility. However, from this time onwards, keeping land barren may result in losing Rythu Bharosa assistance.

During the just concluded Kharif season, the area under cultivation was around 1.15 crore acres. The budget required to pay Rs 7,500 per acre for this area would be Rs 8,625 crore.

The inclusion of horticultural crops in the crop investment assistance remains uncertain so far. The decision will depend on the Cabinet subcommittee on Rythu Bharosa, which is scheduled to meet by the end of the month to finalize the enhanced assistance. Farmers are concerned that more than half of them currently receiving Rythu Bandhu assistance may become ineligible if the new guidelines align with the PM Kisan assistance scheme.

The state’s final decision on the Rythu Bharosha guidelines is expected to ensure that the implementation of the enhanced crop investment assistance will no way have any additional financial implications on the exchequer.