AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday, credited Rs 128.47 crore directly into the accounts of 6,27,906 farmers under ‘YSR Zero-Interest Crop Loan Scheme’ for 2019-20 Rabi season, benefiting those who availed loans up to Rs one lakh and repaid them in the stipulated time.

Addressing the beneficiaries and officials through video conference the Chief Minister said that 60 percent of the world's population is dependent on agriculture and promoting agriculture would create employment for 62 percent of the population in the state. He said the State government’s objective is to prioritise the welfare of farmers, farm labour, and even cleared the pending arrears left by the previous government.

Since the government came to power in June 2019, a total of Rs 1,132 crore was paid to 61,22,585 under the zero-interest subsidy scheme. He urged the farmers to get enrolled under the e-crop database for availing interest subvention from June 2021.

The Chief Minister said that the government has been providing nine-hour free electricity to the farmers during day time benefiting over 18.78 lakh farmers by spending Rs 8,800 crore annually. Through this scheme, each farmer will be saving a minimum of Rs 46,000 every year. The State government has completed the capacity building of feeders to provide free power to farmers at a cost of Rs 1,700 crores.

Reiterating that farmer welfare is the top priority of the State government, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stated that almost all the promises given to the farmer fraternity have been fulfilled in the 22-month governance starting with YSR Rythu Bharosa, the first promise of Navaratnalu, benefiting 51.59 lakh farmers at an expenditure of Rs 13101 Crore. The government has set up over 10,641 Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) to benefit the farmers in numerous ways, standing by the farmers from seeds to marketing.

Besides these, the government is providing input subsidy to the farmers to cover the losses in the same crop season and credited Rs 1055 Crore. About crop insurance, the government has taken the responsibility of paying the insurance premium, providing insurance to the farmers on a timely basis. In addition, the State government had set up a market intervention fund with Rs 3000 Crore and providing a minimum support price for the crops to aid farmers.

Minister K Kannababu, Principal Secretary for Agriculture Poonam Malakondaiah, AP Agri Mission Vice-Chairman MVS Nagi Reddy, Officials of Agriculture, Marketing, were among those present at the event.

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