93 farmers families stuck in debts in AP: ex MLA
Jagan betrayed farmers on Rythu Bharosa benefit
AMARAVATI: TDP former MLA Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar on Wednesday slammed the YSRCP Government for making ‘false claims’ on the farm sector when the national level reports said that 93 percent farmers’ families were stuck in debts in Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Narendra Kumar asserted that the ruling YSRCP betrayed the farmers at every step in the past two and half years. CM Jagan Reddy promised in his party manifesto to pay Rs. 12,500 to every farmer under Rythu Bharosa but he was giving just Rs. 7,500 after coming to power. This came to Rs. 13,500 along with Rs. 6,000 being given by the Central Government. The national level programmes and funds were being used for the publicity of the Chief Minister.
Addressing a press conference here, said that the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBK) were only set up with the ulterior motive to give total control to the ruling party leaders. The rates of fertiliser were skyrocketing and the DAP was being available only in black market. Even the seed was not made available at the RBK centres. AP had fallen far behind Telangana in the purchase of foodgrain. The Telangana Government spent Rs. 16,700 Cr and purchased 1.40 crore metric tonnes during 2020-`21 while AP spent just Rs. 6,700 Cr.
Mr. Narendra Kumar said that the Jagan Reddy Government bought just 14.47 lakh metric tonnes grain during kharif of 2019-20 when compared to 38 lakh metric tonnes in Telangana. During 2020-’21 kharif, the AP Government bought just 15.04 lakh metric tonnes as against 41.06 lakh metric tonnes in Telangana. The maize and jowar purchase centres had only helped the YSRCP leaders to fill their pockets. The CM was not ensuring a fair deal to farmers as his party leaders and middle men were causing severe losses. The ruling party was only deriving undue publicity but not taking true care of the farmers’ well being.
The TDP leader deplored that not a single farmer got crop insurance money in AP under the Prime Minister Fasal Yojana during 2019-’20. Even the interest concession was not extended to loans below Rs. 1 lakh. The farmers were being cheated at every level. The Government had also destroyed the dairy farmers and dairy farmers’ federations in the name of Amul. The wrong policies were pushing farmers into such a crisis that they would not recover for a long time to come.
The TDP leader recalled how Mr Jagan Reddy told the farmers that they would need to pay any money towards crop insurance and that the YCP Government would pay the amount if voted to power. However, the Jagan regime did not pay Rs. 1,300 Cr during 2019-`20, as a result of which not a single farmer in AP got insurance money. The CM made a huge promise about zero interest loans. But now, the banks were collecting the interest from the farmers by bringing pressure. The YCP Government threw up its hands in helplessness.
Mr. Narendra Kumar termed it as unfortunate that the AP Government was discouraging the Vijaya dairy brand when Telangana was getting ready to sell these products even in AP. With an ulterior motive, attacks were being made on the Sangam dairy. The dairies in the State were being destroyed to help Amul. It was condemnable that the Government was spending huge public funds to develop buildings, machinery, vehicles and staff for Amul.
