The Agriculture Ministry, on the 27th of August, conducted a press conference with agriculture ministers of several states and discussed the agricultural situation amid the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Narendra Singh Tomar, the Agriculture Minister of India, conducted the virtual press conference.
During the conference, Mr. Tomar appreciated the Telangana State Government’s innovative agriculture schemes amid the COVID-19 situation.
The Union Agriculture Ministry appreciated schemes like Rythu Bandhu Scheme, farmers welfare schemes, proposal to make Telangana Rice Bowl of India and formation of Rythu Samanvaya Samiti across Telangana.
Besides appreciating the Telangana Government for its agricultural growth, the meeting discussed the Central Government’s recently proposed Agricultural Infrastructure Fund Scheme (AIFS.)
Narendra Singh Tomar also sought opinion on the Centre’s proposed AIFS.
In this context, Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal spoke on various developments, which are taking place in the agriculture sector in India.
In his Power Point Presentation, Mr. Agarwal made specific and special reference to Rythu Bandhu Scheme and Rythu Samanvaya Committees of the Telangana State Government. Mr. Sanjay said, the Rythu Bandhu scheme proved to be very beneficial to farmers and appreciated several other programmes and schemes which are being successfully implemented in Telangana.
K. Chandrashekhar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana was unable to attend the meeting as he was scheduled to meet NABARD Chairman.
On behalf of Mr. Rao, Telangana Agriculture Minister S. Niranjan Reddy participated.
Representing the Telangana Government, Mr. Reddy made several suggestions.
Mr. Reddy said, “The Telangana State government welcomes the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme. We are hopeful that such a scheme would help develop the agriculture sector and get more investments into the sector. It is proposed that the Centre will bear 3 percent of the interest levied on the loans taken to invest in the agriculture sector. But it is better if there is no interest levied on the investments in the agriculture sector. If interest free loans are given, more and more investments can come into the sector.”
He further said, “The Telangana state government under the guidance of CM KCR is implementing several programmes in the State to develop the agri sector and for welfare of farmers in the State. We are extending Rs 7000 Crore to 58 Lakh farmers for every crop as financial input under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme. From village to state level, all over the State Rythu Bandhu Samithies were formed. There are 1.65 Lakh heads of the Samithies. Every 5000 acres had been made into a cluster and one Agriculture Extension Officer was appointed to each Cluster. With this a huge farmers network was created all over the State. With irrigation water facilities increase and the pro farmers policies of the government the extent of land under cultivation has increased leaps and bounds. Compared to last year, the increase was 39 per cent more. As on date cultivation is taking place in 1.36 Crore acres. Another four to five lakh acres will be added in the coming days. In Telangana state where the agriculture operations are on the high scale, the centre should supply the required fertilisers especially Urea to the state.”
The President of Rythu Bandhu in Telangana, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Principal Secretary to Agriculture Janardhan Reddy and S. Niranjan Reddy participated in the meeting.
Stay tuned for further updates.
