Jagan disburses Rs. 542.06 cr input subsidy to 5.97L farmers

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday credited Rs. 542.06 crore input subsidy to the accounts of 5,97,311 farmers who suffered losses due to natural calamities. The Chief Minister also disbursed Rs. 29.51 crore to 1,220 farmers' groups as part of the YSR Yantra Seva scheme.

The Andhra Pradesh government has so far disbursed Rs. 1,612.62 crore input subsidy into the accounts of 19.93 lakh farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said input subsidy should be provided to farmers who suffered crop loss in the same season so that they can invest it during the next season and cut down their losses to some extent. He said 1.21 lakh quintals of seeds at 80% subsidy were provided to farmers who suffered due to non-germination of seeds due to heavy rains, 1.56 lakh farmers were paid Rs. 123.70 crore in April 2020 for losses sustained in March 2020, while 3.71 lakh farmers were compensated Rs. 278.87 crore for damages sustained from April to October due to rains.

In December, 8.35 lakh farmers received Rs. 645.99 crore in input subsidy due to the Nivar cyclone that caused crop loss in November 2020. For the 34,556 farmers who suffered crop loss due to Cyclone Gulab in September 2021, Rs. 22 crores assistance was provided in November 2021.

Farmers can verify their eligibility for any reimbursement at the Rythu Barosa Kendras (RBKs). A list of beneficiaries is displayed at the RBKs and farmers can check if their names are on the list, said the CM. He added that if any eligible farmers have been left out, they can lodge a complaint and rectify the situation.

The Chief Minister added, "We have assessed crop losses with e-crop data, without leaving out anyone who is eligible, and introduced it at the RBK and village level. For transparency, we are presenting the list of eligible candidates at the village secretariats and crediting the compensation to the farmers' accounts at the end of the same season for any crop loss incurred."

He further claimed that the state government is breaking away from the previous governing body's traditions. The earlier government had credited input subsidy a year or two after a calamity struck and it was only credited to a select few. The present government is disbursing the amount within one-two months after the calamities hit and is ensuring that no farmer is left behind, the CM said.