Telangana: Rythu Bandhu only for select ryots

Hyderabad: Only those farmers who have agreed for the new regulated crop pattern suggested by the government would be getting Rythu Bandhu funds in about 10 days. This was decided at a high-level meeting on agriculture chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

The state government transferred Rs 5,500 crore to the Agriculture department and issued the Budget Release Order for another Rs 1,500 crore on Monday. This would benefit about 1.20 crore farmers according to officials.

It may be mentioned here that the government could not extend the Rythu Bandhu benefit to all farmers in the last two farming seasons due to financial challenges faced by the state. In the current season too, the government managed to mobilize required funds even as the revenues dropped to all-time low after the corona crisis.

It is estimated that crop cultivation will be taken up in about 60 lakh to 65 lakh acres in the next Rabi. Paddy would be cultivated in 45 lakh acres, maize in 6 to 7 lakh acres, chickpeas in 4 lakh acres, groundnut in 5 lakh acres and vegetables in 1.5 lakh acres.

The officials were also instructed to create awareness among the farming community about the benefits of the regulated farming such as MSP to the crops which have demand in the market, protection of health of the soil without using fertilizers, optimum utilisation of water resources, etc.