Eatala's budget gives boost to Agriculture

Hyderabad: Finance Minsiter Eatala Rajender, in his fifth consecutive budget for 2018-19, presented in Telangana State Legislative Assembly today gave a major boost to agriculture sector by allocating Rs. 15,788 crore towards Agriculture and Marketing sectors.

"The growth of agricultural sector is vital for the development of the State. The policies adopted in the combined State have pushed the agriculture sector into crisis. The government has decided to revive agriculture sector in Telangana for strengthening rural economy.

To provide immediate relief to farmers, our government has waived the crop loans in the first instance. The crop loans of 35,29,944 farmers amounting to Rs.16,124 crore were paid by the government to the banks," Eatala said in his budget speech.

The minister said that the problems of the farmers could be mitigated only when the government provides irrigation facilities, investment and remunerative price for their produce.

"The irrigation problems are addressed by constructing projects with lightning speed on one hand and reviving tanks on the other. The government has taken a remarkable and innovative decision to address the investment problem of farmers. Investment is very crucial for farmers during cultivation.

The farmer is getting caught in the vicious debt trap with huge interest burden when he borrows money to meet his investment needs for cultivation. To save the farmer from this distress, government has decided to provide the required investment to farmers. None of the Governments in the country could think of such a bold move to help the farmers in the history of the independent India," he said.

From the year 2018-19 onwards, government will provide investment support at a rate of Rs.4000/- per acre per crop for two crops (totalling to Rs.8000/- per acre) to every farmer. The investment support for khariff season, will be distributed from April onwards and for Rabi from November onwards to the farmers in the entire state. For this scheme an amount of Rs. 12,000 crore has been allocated.

The minister also gave a brief on the Land Records Updation Programme. He informed that land records pertaining to 10,823 villages were verified by 1507 teams of Revenue Department account wise in respect of 72,13,111 khatas and necessary updations were carried out. Working day and night, the teams have surveyed and certified/purified 96% of land records as litigation free and up to date.

The He informed that the government would soon launch “DHARANI” website with details of all land records in the State. Further, he said that the government has decided to simplify registration of agricultural and non-agricultural lands. "Sale deeds are being standardised.

The responsibility of registration of lands in the mandals where there are no registration offices, is being entrusted to Mandal Revenue Officers. This will ensure land registration and mutation on the same day," he said.

Speaking about Rythu Samanvaya Samithi (Farmers’ Coordination Committee), the minister said that the farmers in Telangana were far behind in achieving their legitimate rights and benefits. "The farmers are facing these problems because they did not appreciate the strength of being organised. The farmers should understand the strength of unity. To convert the idea of the Chief Minister of unity and coordination among farmers into a reality, “Rythu Samanvaya Samithis” are formed," he said.

Farmer Coordination Committees with 1,61,000 farmer members across the state is formed. Farmer Committees are constituted - at Village level with 15 members, at Mandal and District levels with 24 members each and at the State level with 42 members.

The State level committee will have representatives of farmers, agricultural officers, scientists and experts as members. This Committee will function as a link between farmers and government. The mandate of the farmers’ committee is to create a sense of mutual co-operation among farmers, bring awareness and enlighten farmers to resolve the problems of the sector and to ensure minimum support price to the produce of the farmers.

The Committee may mediate between farmers and buyers to achieve the support price for harvested crop. The Committee may procure agriculture produce if the market prices are not remunerative. Government will guarantee the procurement and provide necessary funds.

Mentioning about Farmers’ Forum (Rythu Vedika), the minister said that farmers need a platform to exchange their views and to discuss various issues concerning them.

The government has already appointed an Agriculture Extension Officer for a cluster of 5,000 acres. On the same lines, government will set up a farmers’ forum for every cluster, he said. Further, he informed that Rs. 500 crore has been allocated for 'Rythu Bhima Pathakam', a new farmer group insurance scheme which provides a life insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh.

Etala informed that the State Government has been promoting extensive mechanisation of agriculture by providing incentives. Government is supplying machinery and spare parts at a subsidised price. So far, 13,934 tractors, 31,274 farm equipment, 4,71,000 tarpaulins, and 26,179 sprayers were distributed at a subsidy ranging from 50% to 95% to the farmers in Telangana. Along with these items, it is proposed to distribute transplantors at subsidised rates. For promotion of farm mechanisation an amount of Rs. 522 crore is proposed in the budget.

The government has also allocated Rs. 127 for Micro Irrigation, Rs. 120 crore for Greenhouse Cultivation and Rs. 132 crore for Marketing Department.