In another major pre-poll sop in poll-bound Andhra Pradesh, the government on Wednesday announced annual financial assistance of Rs 4,000 to every farmer in the state. The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu approved the new scheme “Annadata Sukhibhava”, under which the state government will give Rs 4,000 assistance in addition to Rs 6,000 announced by the Centre in the interim budget earlier this month.
Farmers having more than five acres of land and not eligible under the Centre's scheme will get Rs 10,000 every year, he said.
Tenant farmers will also get the benefit of the scheme, said Minister for Agriculture Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy. The scheme would benefit 54 lakh farmers, he added.
In the interim budget presented in the Assembly last week, the government allocated Rs 5,000 crore for the scheme.
Speaking to the media, Somireddy said, "Those who fall under the Centre’s scheme will be given Rs 4000 taking the total to Rs 10,000. Those who don't fall under the Centre’s purview will be given Rs 10,000. Since the Centre’s accordance for farmers is nominal, we have decided to assist with Rs 5,000 crore."
He also claimed that the TDP government is giving Rs 8,000 crore loan waiver along with Rs 5,000 crore for season-wise assistance.
The minister said that the new 'Annadatha Sukhibava' scheme will also include the tenant farmers as beneficiaries. According to estimates, as many as 54 lakh farmers would benefit from the scheme.
The minister said money will be deposited in the farmers' bank accounts by the end of February. It will include Rs 2,000 given by the Central government.
While the Centre’s scheme is having a limit of five acres to get Rs 6,000, the state scheme will apply to all farmers including those who don’t fulfil the Centre’s norms.
The unheralded announcement of the scheme has come apparently to counter the recent Kisan Samman scheme announced by the Centre.
Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam State President Peddi Reddy, responding to the announcement on the state's “Annadhata Sukhibhava” scheme, said that it would be an insufficient help since the prices of fertilizers and pesticides have increased manifold.
Speaking to TNM, he said, "The prices of fertilizer have increased by at least Rs 300. The scheme will not help farmers in the state as Rs 10,000 will hardly suffice for an acre of land. They should increase the amount if they want to assist while providing better opportunities to farmers to market their crops."
He also demanded certain clarifications on how the scheme will benefit tenant farmers in the state who are most affected.
(With IANS inputs)