Telangana poly-house farmers feel cheated on subsidy

Hyderabad: The state government has not released its share of subsidy after a year to poly-house farmers who have collectively sunk over Rs 18 crore in the project.

 

The state government launched a massive campaign to promote poly-house farming in 150 mandals falling within a 100-km radius of Hyderabad covering Medak, Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Nalgonda districts last year.  This was to encourage farmers to produce and supply vegetables to city at profitable rates, to overcome shortage of vegetables and minimise dependence of the city on neighbouring states. 

 

The state government offered 75 per cent subsidy to woo farmers and asked them to pay 25 per cent first. Believing the government’s assurance, farmers paid their share of Rs 18 crore and took up poly-house farming, spending Rs 10 lakh per acre in 181 acres. The amount was paid to poly-house firms shortlisted by the state, to construct the poly-houses.

 

But TS failed to release its share of Rs 54 crore so far though it had allotted Rs 250 crore in the Budget this year. With this, the poly-house firms stopped works midway pushing farmers into crisis. The state has targeted taking up poly house farming in 847 acres this year and invited applications from farmers to claim subsidy.