Farmer welfare key for growth: Pocharam

Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy today claimed that Telangana is only state in the country to introduce the crop investment scheme to boost the economy of the farmers. He accused the governments in 70 years failed to make efforts to help farmers against loans and suicides. Replying to queries by the members on farm sector, farm investment in the Assembly on Wednesday he said that the amount will help the farmers to get rid of the loan related woes. The farmers in Telangana are lucky to have K Chandrasekhar Rao as their chief minister he said.

The fates of farmers did not change despite the new chief ministers and new governments during 70 years he said. It is history that the new state is offering such a big boost to the farmers like no other state did in the country he said. Since KCR has been making persistent efforts for the welfare the opposition should stop making baseless charges he suggested. Being aware of the farmers suicides, problems of loans the chief minister came up with first of its kind scheme to offer Rs 8000 per acre in two spells a year he claimed. This will sure prove handy as the agriculture to reap in golden harvest, the minister said.

Srinivas Reddy slammed the opposition citing that none of 21 BJP ruled states are offering such incentives and 24 hour power to farm sector. The projects will be completed, lakes revived, use ample waters from rivers and develop agriculture to revive its economy by offering MSP through farmer panels at state level. The efforts of the government being appreciated at central level in this regard, the agriculture minister said. The Centre plans to give Rs 11 lakh cr loans to farmers of no use as that will not serve the purpose. Steps needed to see that the farmers can make own investments without relying on the lenders or banks he said. Telangana government wants to see smiles on the faces of the farmers who feed the nation by suffering losses he added. (NSS)