NIZAMABAD: Shortage of funds for the Rythu Bandhu scheme means that the scheme fails to achieve its main goal of helping farmers prior to the cultivation of crops.
The state government introduced the Rythu Bandhu scheme as an investment subsidy.
The farmers are unable to get Rs 5,000 per acre in the ongoing kharif season. The scheme is meant for investment in cultivation but the time for the harvesting of crops has arrived and no funds have been released so far.
In Nizamabad district, there are 2.35 lakh farmers identified as eligible for benefits through the Rythu Bandhu scheme.Rs 258 crore is required to cover all the farmers in the district. The Agriculture Department has processed the Rythu Bandhu scheme for 1.34 lakh farmers by disbursing Rs 147 crore so far in a phased manner.
In this context, the farmers are forced to depend on private moneylenders to get loans for agricultural investment.
Usually, farmers require money in the kharif season as they prefer to cultivate paddy, turmeric and other crops.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, G.Narasimha Reddy, a farmer in Bheemgal, said that a delay in the sanction of the monies under the Rythu Bandhu scheme has affected small and marginal farmers adversely. Big farmers can manage their investments prior to the cultivation of the kharif and rabi crops, he said. The state government should release the funds prior to the agricultural season operations, he said.
District Agriculture Officer M. Govind said that farmers should not worry about the Rythu Bandhu scheme as funds will be allocated soon. Few farmers frequently contact us over the delay in the sanction of funds, he said.
