YS Jagan releases Rs 1,117.21 crore for YSR crop insurance claims

ANANTAPUR: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy disbursed Rs 1,117.21 crore to over 10 lakh farmers in the state on Saturday as crop insurance payout for the 2022 Kharif season.

The funds were released by the Chief Minister under the Dr YSR Free Crop Insurance Scheme on the occasion of Rythu Dinotsavam, which commemorates the birth anniversary of his father, and late Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

The Chief Minister also officially launched the Multipurpose Facilitation Centre(MPFC) godowns and 52 Dr YSR Agri Testing Labs, which cost Rs 63.93 crore for its construction. This brings the overall number of labs in the state to 127.

The Chief Minister recounted his father's achievements while addressing a huge public gathering at Kalyanadurgam, Anantapur district, before depositing the money directly into the bank accounts of impacted farmers with the touch of a button. "Every year, on July 8, farmers remember schemes like Aarogyasri, Jalayagnam, 104 and 108 ambulance services, fee reimbursement and lakhs of houses constructed by YSR for the poor. We have named several welfare schemes after YSR to respect him and cherish his memories forever,” YS Jagan said.

The Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh was the only State where the Government had been implementing various unique welfare schemes for the sake of farmers. With this, experts in other States and apart from India, were keenly observing the implementation of the programmes in Andhra Pradesh. “In an unprecedented manner, we are covering every irrigated acre and every farmer through RBKs and e-cropping under the crop insurance scheme without imposing any financial burden on the farmers. No other State is implementing a scheme like this,” he said.

So far, 54,48,000 farmers got free insurance of Rs. 7,802 crores in the last four years while only Rs 3,411 crore were paid to 35,80,000 farmers in the 5 years of drought-hit TDP rule, the Chief Minister said. Taking a dig at the TDP-friendly media, which remained a mute spectator during the TDP rule over non-clearance of insurance claims, was shedding crocodile tears on behalf of farmers twisting the facts on insurance and unabashedly publishing concocted stories, YS Jagan criticised.

Listing out the welfare schemes being implemented for farmers, the Chief Minister said that visible changes were taking place in the State. Apart from the free insurance scheme, the Government had so far spent Rs. 30,890 crores under Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan in the last four years benefiting 52,38,000 farmers, he said, stating this worked as Sanjeevini for the small and marginal farmers. As many as 10,778 RBKs were hand holding the farmers from the stage of seeding to marketing their produce. The e-crop system helped officials maintain accurate data of crops and farmers. Crop loss payment before the end of the season, zero interest scheme and a price stabilisation fund of Rs 3,000 crore were helping the farmers in a great way, he asserted.

Apart from that, the State Government had so far spent Rs. 40, 000 crore, Rs 1,965 crore, Rs 1,835 crore and Rs 1,100 crore on free power supply, crop loss, zero interest and YSR Yantra Seva Scheme respectively, YS Jagan said. The State Government had also given relief to 87,600 farmers over 2,06,000 acres of dotted lands besides launching 340 veterinary ambulances to serve the ailing cattle, tying up with Amul to enhance the milk collection rate for dairy farmers, establishing millet processing units and for helping small and marginal farmers and taking up resurvey of lands after 100 years to permanently settle land disputes, the Chief Minister informed.

Rythu Bharosa Kendram (RBKs) were being further strengthened with soil testing facilities while CAP certification, plant doctor concept, precision agriculture and use of drones would be introduced soon to help the farmers in every way, YS Jagan said.