Five years on, Rythu Bandhu transforms sustenance agriculture into profitable venture

HYDERABAD: Hardworking Telangana farmers have suffered a lot due to rainfed agriculture coupled with a lack of timely financial help. After the formation of the state, the Telangana government under the leadership of K. Chandrashekar Rao initiated a comprehensive revamp of the sector by addressing pertinent problems that have been plaguing the farmers of the semi-arid region.

Rythu Bandhu, a scheme addressed at supplementing farmers’ income encouraging them to prepare for the next crop, has transformed the agricultural landscape of the state. Unveiled in 2018 the scheme has completed five years of its coming into being. So far the government has deposited Rs 65,500 crores in 10 releases to over 70 lakh farmers at the rate of Rs.10,000 per acre per annum.

The innovative and revolutionary farm input assistance scheme also aims to curb distress in the farming community, a main reason for farmer suicides. The Telangana government which has given utmost priority to the farming sector, first revived the water bodies through Mission Kakatiya, provided free power, started the completion of pending irrigation projects, and provided financial help through Rythu Bandhu to break the vicious circle of poverty.

The scheme is so unique that the UNO hailed it as one of the most impactful schemes in the world, which was started in Telangana like nowhere else in the world. MS Swaminathan, the father of Indian agriculture, praised it, and people such as Ashok Gulati, a prominent agricultural economist, also praised the scheme.

With the efforts of the Telangana government, agriculture has become the flagship of India. Now the cropping area in the state has increased from 131.34 lakh acres in 2014-15 to 209 lakh acres in 2022-23. Paddy has moved up from 15th position in 2014-15 to 2nd position today, cotton is 2nd in the country, and chili is in 1st position.

Telangana is the only state in the country that has set up more than 7,000 rice grain collection centers and buys the entire grain from the farmer’s doorsteps. The scheme has become so popular that the central government and various states are now implementing similar schemes on a small scale.

Minister for Medical, Health & Finance, T Harish Rao in a tweet has described the scheme as instrumental in transforming farming into a festival and making the poor farmers rich. “The innovative and farmer-centric schemes initiated by KCR are inspiring other states to implement similar schemes. It is now time to welcome “Abki Bar Kisan Sarkar,” he said.

Dr. Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MLC, President Telangana Rythu Bandhu Samiti said that all the farmers of Telangana conveyed thanks to Chief Minister KCR for providing such a wonderful scheme to the farmers of the state.