Telangana Agricultural action plan 2017-18
Telangana Government is implementing many welfare schemes for the farmers of the state. On Tuesday, they have released an action plan for 2017-18. In this action plan they have granted 5755 crores for the agricultural sector. They have also announced a loan waiver amount of 4000 crores to the farmers and mentioned that in the past three years a total amount of 16105 crores was waived off. As per the meteorological reports, Telangana state to receive sufficient rainfall this year and an estimate of 91 lakh tonnes of cereals to be available in the state.
As the seeds are the key for agriculture, Telangana Government to give 6 lakh quintals of subsidy seeds to the farmers with an increase in cost of 139 crores which was 69 crores for 2016-17. For the automation of agricultural process, Telangana Government has allocated 337 crores and is expecting an additional 134 crores from the Central Government under S.M.A.M and R.K.V.Y schemes. Measures are being taken for the procurement of 28 lakh metric tonnes of pesticides and insecticides. Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bheema Yojna, State Government has granted 224 crores to reduce the premium of the farmer loans and the farmers who paid the loan amount in time are given no interest loans along with a further provision of 343 crores for a low interest rate of 25 paise.
Telangana State agricultural department has taken necessary steps to provide quality seeds, pesticides and insecticides to the farmers. The agricultural department has also collected samples of 9000 seed varieties, 12000 pesticides varieties and 3710 insecticides varieties for quality testing and the ones failing the norms are to be taken severe action against them. The agricultural department is planning to setup 10 seed centres and cultivate quality gram, millets, paddy in 407 hectors in initial phase. Under the national food safety scheme, 49.35 crores were granted and under the Oil seeds scheme 14.87 crores were granted. Under the agricultural extension scheme (ATMA) 32.58 crores are sanctioned which will help in providing various training cultivation methods to the farmers. Collection of 4.88 lakh samples of agricultural soil to be done by the agricultural department and under the PKVY scheme 27.56 crores amount was granted to the state. Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, 235 crores were granted to develop the basic facilities of the agricultural and its associated departments in the state.