Hyderabad: The government has failed to pay input subsidy to farmers, because, it says, the Centre has not released drought aid. While the government had sought Rs 3,000 crore drought aid, the Centre has announced Rs 790 crore so far. New Delhi has released Rs 53 crore. Farmers who suffered huge losses because their crops withered away due to the consecutive droughts are awaiting the subsidy so as to invest afresh on crops.
Farmers are entitled for an input subsidy of Rs 10,000 per acre in drought-hit mandals. The government had declared 231 mandals as drought-hit in November last. The state government received a communication from the Centre last week that there is a shortage of funds meant for drought aid, and it would release the money when it is available.
The state government is dependent on Centre to provide input subsidy to farmers due to dearth of funds. If the Centre does not pay up, the chances of farmers receiving input subsidy till the kharif season in June looks remote. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said, “We are trying to pay input subsidy by June. If the Centre releases grants at the earliest, it would be done faster.”
