Farmers' income will get doubled by 2022: Harish Rao

Hyderabad : Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao said that the financial assistance of Rs. 4,000 per acre per season to be given by Telangana Government would double the income of farmers by the year 2022.

Harish Rao was speaking after watching a power-point presentation on Wednesday given by the officials of Marketing Department on the outcome of their study tour to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and Karnataka. The officials told the minister said the Cotton Marketing Corporation has been working in Maharashtra for the last three years. Similarly, the Marketing Department of Maharashtra procures Tur and converts it into Dal to be used in mid-day meal scheme and in other government schemes.

The officials said that Madhya Pradesh Government was implementing Bhuvantar Bhugtan Programme wherein farmers are paid compensation if they fail to get MSP for their produce. They said Madhya Pradesh Government was spending Rs. 400 crore on the scheme.

In Haryana, the State Government fixes the prices of onion, tomatoes, cauliflower and other vegetables even before they are grown.

Reacting to the inputs given by the officials, Harish Rao said that the Telangana Government's scheme of providing Rs. 4,000 per acre financial assistance for every crop was unique and it would revolutionise the lives of farmers. He said nearly 2.84 lakh Metric Tonnes Tur is expected to be grown and arrangements were be made to procure 1.5 lakh MTs. He said the Central Government has agreed to purchase 53, 600 MTs of Tur and so far, 83600 MTs have been procured. He said that the target of 1.5 lakh MTs procurement would be achieved soon.