VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has released ₹109.74 crore under the YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan Scheme for the year 2023-24. This would benefit 1,46,324 tenant farmers from the SC, ST, BC, and minority communities.
The Chief Minister also released ₹11.01 crore towards input subsidy, benefiting 11,373 farmers who lost their crops due to heavy rains between May and August 2023. This takes the grand total of the benefit disbursal to ₹120.75 crore. The amount is being directly credited into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
Elaborating about the revolutionary changes being introduced in the agricultural sector, Jagan Mohan Reddy said the free insurance scheme, free power supply, payment of input subsidy at the season’s end, and timely support in facilitating the supply of gunny bags have boosted the morale of the farmers.
Releasing the first tranche of the Rythu Bharosa for the fifth year in a row with the click of a button from the CM’s Camp Office here on Friday, the Chief Minister said the scheme was unique as it extended financial support to tenant farmers holding CCRC cards, including those cultivating endowment lands and RoFR patta lands.
He said, “In our state, 60 per cent of the farmers own less than half a hectare of agricultural land. Some 70 per cent of the farmers own less than a hectare. Hence, the scheme would be helpful to the majority of farmers. No other state is implementing such a scheme under which their government pays ₹13,500 to each eligible farmer every year in three installments, paying ₹7,500, ₹4,000, and ₹2,000 respectively.”
Describing the government as farmer-friendly, the Chief Minister said it has spent ₹31,005 crore, benefiting 52,57,263 farmers in the last 50 months and ₹3,943 crore so far this year under the scheme.
He said, “In all, 5.38 lakh SC, ST, BC, Minority tenant farmers, including those cultivating endowment lands, and 3.99 lakh RoFR farmers have received benefits to the tune of ₹1,122 crore so far.”
The RBK system was introduced to help the farming community. The RBKs across the state, staffed by agricultural graduates and supported by village secretariat staff, are helping farmers with e-cropping facilities and intervening wherever necessary to ensure MSP for various agricultural produce, he said.
Elaborating on the revolutionary changes that were brought to the agricultural sector, the CM said the free insurance scheme, free power supply, payment of input subsidy at the end of the season, and timely support in facilitating the supply of gunny bags have boosted the morale of the state’s farmers.
He said that after the entry of Amul, dairy farmers have also benefited a lot with an increase in the milk price due to healthy competition.
The Chief Minister interacted with some beneficiaries in virtual mode. Some farmers sought insurance for the mango crop. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the insurance companies were not coming forward to provide insurance to mangoes due to peculiar reasons. “Anyhow, I will initiate efforts in this direction,” he stated.
Agriculture minister Kakani Govardhan, animal husbandry minister Appala Raju, Chief Secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy, and senior officials were present.
