AP Budget 2020: Minister Kanna Babu introduces Agriculture budget, here are allocations

After introducing the finance budget by Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy in Assembly, the Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Budget 2020-21 was introduced by the minister Kanna Babu Assembly on Tuesday. He said that the agriculture sector has undergone a number of changes over the past year. Decisions have been made to make the farmers better, in the long run, he said. On behalf of the State Government, the Government has allocated Rs. 29,159.97 crore for the Agricultural sector.

Addressing the Legislative Assembly, he recalled the services of late Chief Minister YS Rajashekar Reddy and said that the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is walking the lines of late YSR in the welfare of the farmers. He said that the chief minister's aim is to make the farming feasible and wants to see the happiness on the faces of the farmers.

Here are the highlights of Agriculture budget

YSR Rythu Bharosa

The PM Kisan Rythu Bharosa Scheme was launched on October 15, 2019. As part of this, each farmer's family will receive an annual investment of Rs. 13,500 for their farming needs. The scheme provides financial assistance to 46 lakhs, 51 thousand eligible farmer families, in the financial year 2019-20, which includes 58 lakhs of tenant families. The government has allocated Rs 3,615.60 crore for the financial year 2020-21 to continue this scheme.

YSR Crops Free Insurance Scheme:

The state government has decided to pay a farmer's share premium for insurance for all crops identified under PMFBY and RWBCIS for the Kharif period of 2019. The crop insurance scheme is administered by the government instead of the insurance companies. Under this scheme, the budget aims to provide benefits to the farmers and Rs. 500 crores proposed.

Interest-free loans:

The government is paying interest on crop loans. The government has allocated Rs 1,100 crore for the financial year 2020-21.

Rythu Bharosa Kendras

The government intends to set up 11,158 Rythu Bharosa Kendras in every village secretariat of the state. These centres are responsible for the supply of essential commodities to the farmers on the one hand and on the other hand the knowledge of the best economical practices. Supply of multi-brand quality inputs, MSP information, guidance on technical matters. The government has allocated Rs 100 crore for the establishment of Farmer Guarantee Centers.

Quality Testing Centers

The government will take measures to curb the supply of inferior seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, it has decided to set up quality testing centres near the farms. The government has proposed to set up 160 YSR Agrarian Inspection Centers across the state. Of these, 147 laboratories will be set up in rural areas and 13 in district centres. The government has allocated Rs 65 crore in this budget to set up YSR Agri Testing Laboratories.

Price Stabilization Fund

The government has set up a Price Stabilization Fund to increase the chances of selling minimum crop support crops and to ensure that crops that do not have a minimum support price do not sell below normal prices. The creation of this fund of Rs 3,000 crore is the historic decision in the history of the state. Onion, Mirchi, Turmeric, Banana, Orange and Cereal are the only government to announce minimum support price. The government has also set up a toll-free number of 1907 to solve the problems of farmers.

The government has provided Rs 96.11 crore for green gram farmers and Rs 63.12 crore for onion farmers through the Price Stabilization Fund. The government collected over Rs 2,138 crore of agricultural products through MarkFed during the lockdown. The government has proposed Rs 11,891.20 crore to the agriculture sector in this budget.