Millet Board to be set up for supporting the farmers: Chief Minister Jagan

Nellore: The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assured to establish Millet Board in the state for supporting the small and marginal farmers. He formally launched the YSR Rythu Bharosa Scheme at Kakutur village of Venkatachalam on Tuesday and emotionally said he is doing what he had done during Padayatra and also during the election campaign for supporting the ill-fated farmers in the state who have been denied any support.

"God blessed us with sufficient water in reservoirs and now major water bodies are filled to the brim giving happiness to the farmers. After a long time, Somasila Reservoir reached to a level of around 75 tmc feet. The years of distress have gone, and now you start a new lease of life with the support from the Government. The manifesto is my bible/Bhagavadgita which I remember and implement it," said the Chief Minister. He asked to play the video clipping of what he had assured during a meet on July 8, 2017, regarding the implementation of the Scheme.

He explained that he had started implementing the scheme much before actual announcement keeping in view of the welfare of 54 lakh farmers and tenant farmers across the state. He said they would give Rs. 7,500 in May, Rs. 4,000 in October and Rs. 2,000 in January as they had enhanced the support from Rs. 12,500 to Rs. 13,500 per annum for five years.

He reminded that he had sanctioned Rs. 1,700 Cr for upgrading the feeders across the state enabling them to provide 9-hour daytime power supply for agriculture purpose. 60 pc of the feeders are now feasible for supply and the up-gradation activity has been started and others would be completed by end of next July. He also said the state government had shouldered the responsibility of paying crop insurance of Rs. 2,164 Cr giving relief to the farmers.

He reiterated zero interest rate for crop loans up to Rs. 1 lakh to the farmers, Price Stabilization Fund with Rs. 3,000 Cr, payment of dues of input subsidy of Rs. 2,000 Cr and others have been started for the welfare of the farming community. He announced the formation of the Millet Board would be another advantage for them.

The Chief Minister assured that they would conduct a survey for setting up warehouses, cold storages and many other facilities for supporting marketing activity after duly conducting survey in the state.

"Now, any family shouldn't be left orphaned in case any farmer commits suicide. The district collector immediately hands over the support of Rs. 7 lakhs to them. We are taking care of problems of Bengal gram, palm oil, tobacco and aqua farmers. We are also giving support if any farmers lose cattle or livestock dies due to accident or natural calamities," said the Chief Minister.

He said the Nellore population has given him 10 legislators, 2 MPs and said he would complete all pending irrigation projects in the district and said for the reason he had given birth to Dr Anil Kumar in the cabinet. He said farmers would get money on every Wednesday till Nov 15 and also said leftover farmers if any can approach the officials or thorough online for getting the support.

Ministers Dr Anil Kumar, K Kanna Babu, Sarvepalli legislator Kakani Govardhan Reddy, and others spoke. Home Minister and the District In-charge Minister M Sucharitha, TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy, Nellore MP A Prabhakar Reddy, RS Member V Prabhakar Reddy, District Collector MV Seshagiri Babu and others were present. Chief Minister formally launched the scheme along with the district in-charge minister Sucharitha.