State governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana aid small and marginal farmers through various schemes. Rs 510 Crore worth farm loans released in Andhra Pradesh while Telangana Waives Farm Loans worth Rs 27712 Crores.
Andhra Pradesh Releases Rs 510 Crore for Farm Loans
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh CM released Rs 510 crores under an interest-free crop loan scheme or ‘YSR Sunna Vaddi Panta Runalu Scheme’. The plan will benefit around 14 lakh farmers in the state. Further, he also announced a Rs 132 crore input subsidy for crop losses suffered in October 2020 due to heavy rains benefitting 1.98 lakh farmers. Additionally, Mr Reddy asserted that while the previous TDP government had delayed paying compensation to farmers, the YSRCP compensated farmers with Rs 135.73 crore for Kharif losses between June and September.
Government’s Efforts for Dairy Sector
The AP government has also signed an MoU with Amul Dairy for the procurement of milk. Initially, it would begin by procuring milk in Prakasam, Chittoor, and Kadapa districts from November 26. Then, it will extend it to dairy farmers and women self-help groups of other districts. Also, it will set up 9,800 Bulk Milk Cooling Units (BMCU) in Rythu Bharosa Kendras across the state. Further, he claimed that the government would complete building capacity feeders by November end. The state has allotted Rs 1800 crore for the crop insurance scheme. Farmers can avail of benefits by paying a premium of just Rs 1.
Telangana Government Waives Loans
IT and Industries Minister Rama Rao stated that Telangana government has waived off crop loans amounting to Rs 27,718 crore. Further, noting the RBI’s report, he added that this is the highest amount of crop loan waived by any state in the entire country. Also, he mentioned that despite the Covid crisis, the government released Rs 7,200 crore for Rythu Bandhu, Rs 1,142 crore for Rythu Bima, and another Rs 14,000 crore towards loan waiver. Further, countering the allegation of the opposition, he said that farmers’ suicide rate has come down in the state and agricultural GSDP has also gone up. He assured that the state government is committed to benefitting farmers in every possible way.
In all, both the governments are diligently working to uplift the status of agriculture in the respective states.