Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has apologized to farmers for the severe delay in the distribution of `Rythu Bharosa’ to them. “You (farmers) should forgive us. We thought we would provide `Rythu Bharosa’ by March 31. But, there has been a delay. We will definitely provide `Rythu Bharosa’ to the remaining farmers very soon”, he said.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Rythu Mahotsavam held in Nizamabad on Monday, he said, “There are difficulties after a family. If you get married at home during difficult times and drought, the state government has the same problem. However, we have sent Rs. 33,000 crores into the pockets of farmers in a single year”.
The Minister said that crop loss compensation will also be deposited in the accounts of farmers soon. He explained that if less water is applied, more yield will be obtained, and that the Nizamsagar ayacut farmers have achieved huge yields through the off-and-on method.
He said that oil palm companies will come in three to four years and that there is water, and farmers should focus on oil palm instead of paddy cultivation. He revealed that the turmeric board will be used to promote allied sectors with the help of the central government so that farmers can benefit.
Tummala stated that the responsibility of establishing the turmeric board lies with the Prime Minister and the central government. Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said that silt will be completely removed from the Nizamsagar and SRSP projects.
He said that tenders will be called by the end of this month and steps will be taken to provide water to lakhs of acres of additional ayacut. He revealed that the pending work of Guthpa lift irrigation will also be completed along with the work of Package-20,21,22 in the Kaleshwaram project. He criticized that Rs. lakh crores were spent in Kaleshwaram.
He said that even though Annaram and Sundilla were rendered useless after the collapse of Medigadda, the credit for harvesting a record 153.5 lakh tonnes of paddy in 66.7 lakh acres in the state during the last monsoon season goes to the farmers.