KURNOOL: Kurnool farmers on Tuesday were elated following the release of free crop insurance by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
As many as 1,85,744 beneficiaries had a total amount of Rs 181.12 crores directly credited into their accounts. On the occasion, they felt the scheme was a shield against the vagaries of nature.
During kharif last year, they suffered heavy losses due to unseasonal rains to cotton, groundnut, paddy, corn, and Bengal gram in an extent of 4,71,746 acres. As they got a compensation for which they paid no premium, they thanked the benevolence of the government. Praising it, Lakshmi Kanth Reddy of Chilla Banda in Kodumur mandal said heavy rains washed away Bengal gram in 5 acres and cotton in 7 acres, for which he spent Rs 30,000 per acre for cotton crop and Rs 5,000 per acre for Bengal gram crop. Jagan Mohan Reddy government was the only government in India that was coming to the rescue of beyond their imagination, he said.
Mohan Reddy, a farmer from Lakshmipuram in Kallur mandal, said he cultivated maize, cotton, and red gram in 9 acres. He spent Rs 30,000 per acre on maize crop Rs 25,000 on cotton crop, and Rs 20,000 on program crop. His entire crop was washed away. He was grateful to the government for providing timely aid. He said also got Rs 7,500 per acre through Rythu Bharosa recently.
The government transferred Rs 31.11 crore to the accounts of farmers under the free crop insurance scheme on Tuesday. Disclosing this, District Collector Pola Bhaskar said the government was also going to set up YSR comprehensive laboratories for seed and soil testing soon. Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and MLC Pothula Suneetha were present.
