HYDERABAD: The number of Rythu Bandhu beneficiaries is set to touch the 70 lakh mark in the ongoing kharif season, on account of the addition of five lakh farmers. The state government will start crediting the Rythu Bandhu aid, of Rs 5,000 per acre, to farmers’ accounts from Monday. The government has mobilised RS 7,720 crore for the scheme, sources said.
In a media statement on Sunday, agriculture minister S. Niranjan Reddy said that over 70 lakh farmers, starting with those owning up to one acre, will receive the aid. “It will be enhanced by an acre every day and all the farmers will be covered within a month,” he said.
The minister said the number of beneficiaries will increase due to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s decision to extend the scheme to tribal recipients of podu land pattas from June 30.
“It will result in addition of 1.5 lakh farmers and 4 lakh acres. This apart, all farmers who purchased land after kharif in 2022 will be included in the beneficiaries list,” he said.
This is the 11th instalment of Rythu Bandhu since May 2018. The government has disbursed RS 65,910 crore in 10 instalments so far, ahead of this kharif.
