KCR keeps farmers guessing on June 2 gift

Hyderabad: What is the gift that is in store for the farmers which Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao promised to give to the farmers at Kondapochamma Reservoir on Friday? What kind of announcements the chief minister will make which could even stun the nation?

While this has been the big question making rounds in political circles as well as the farmers, it is learnt that the package that is likely to be announced on June 2, which happens to be the TS formation day, would include free distribution of seeds and fertilisers to farmers who have land up to 10 acres, minimum support price to all agriculture produce who opt for regulated farming and purchase of the entire crop produced by them.

Officials, it is said, are in the process of working out modalities for this new scheme.

The state Agriculture and Finance departments are jointly working out the scheme. Sources said that the coverage of insurance to all crops under regulated farming is under active considerations.

The government had recently announced that Rythu Bandhu scheme benefit will be extended to the farmers who adopted regulated farming under which the prescribed crops should only be grown in every season.

"When the farmers cultivate mandated specific crops, the government will have to take the responsibility of the protection of the entire crops and provide remunerative prices.

Farmers should be given monetary assurance if the crops are damaged due natural calamities," said a senior official adding that the farmers will not take up regulated farming unless they get assurance from the government.

Once the farmers come forward for adopting the new farming system, the government will prepare plans based on the farm output every year and promote food processing industry simultaneously.

A blueprint to set up food processing SEZs in every Assembly segment is being finalised and KCR is keen to announce the master plan at the earliest.