3 days ago
₹146 crore allocated to offer agricultural equipment to farmers on subsidy: A.P. Social Welfare Minister
State government has allocated ₹146 crore to provide agricultural equipment to farmers on subsidy, said Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy while addressing the farmers in 'Eruvaka Pournami' programme, at Throvagunta village near Ongole, in Prakasam district, on Wednesday.
Mr. Veeranjaneya Swamy, along with Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Ongole MLA Damacharla Janardhana Rao, Santanuthalapadu MLA B.N. Vijay Kumar, Ongole Mayor Gangada Sujatha, Tobacco Board Chairman Yashwant Kumar Chidipothu and Collector A. Thameem Ansaria, participated in the programme organised by the Agriculture Department in a field near the tobacco auction centre.
On the occasion, Mr. Veeranjaneya Swamy said, 'The alliance government has streamlined the Central government schemes that were stalled in the regime of YSR Congress Party due to lack of matching grants. Annadatha Sukhibhava scheme will be implemented on June 20 to provide financial assistance to the farmers.'
Later, he visited the tobacco auction centre, held a meeting with the farmers and inspected the way tobacco is being procured at the centre. 'Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is a farmer's son and knows the hardships faced by the farmers. Our government has introduced a special budget for agriculture. The Chief Minister wants the paddy farmers to be happy,' the Minister said.
The Social Welfare Minister further said that the coalition government will support the tobacco farmers so that they do not suffer any losses. He asked the Chairman of the Tobacco board to ensure that companies purchase the low-grade tobacco also. He said that the government has already formed a committee of ministers to solve their issues.
Assuring support to them, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said, 'The tobacco companies have earned good profit during the last two years and should buy all the tobacco grown this year as well. The State government will procure black burley tobacco through Markfed from June 16.'
'The tobacco companies should also take responsibility in supporting the farmers. Similar to last year's procurement, the entire crop should be purchased this year. Otherwise, it is not right for companies to buy as they please. They should bring local conditions to the attention of their managements,' said Ongole MLA Damacharla Janardhana Rao.
Collector Thameem Ansaria said that the farmers should take advantage of the financial assistance provided by the government. She said that the yield can be increased by implementing the latest technology. The government has focused on making agriculture profitable and it is also giving high priority to the natural farming system, she informed.
