Telangana Disburses Rs 7,720 Crore For 70 Lakh Farmers Under 'Rythu Bandhu' Scheme

An additional 5 lakh new beneficiaries, including 1.5 lakh Podu farmers, have been included in the Rythu Bandhu scheme this year.

The Telangana government has released Rs 7,720.29 crore under the 11th installment of the 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme, benefiting approximately 70 lakh farmers for the Vanakalam season of 2023-24. The funds were deposited into the bank accounts of the farmers on Monday.

With this latest tranche, the Rythu Bandhu scheme will have contributed a total of Rs 72,910 crore to farmers. The primary objective of the scheme is to support farmers and enhance agricultural productivity.

This year, the scheme includes an additional 5 lakh new beneficiaries, including 1.5 lakh Podu farmers who own four lakh acres of Podu lands. Consequently, the government will bear an additional burden of approximately Rs 300 crore compared to previous disbursements.

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According to a Telangana Today report, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy advised first-time beneficiaries of the Rythu Bandhu scheme to contact local agriculture officials with their bank account details to ensure a smooth disbursement process.

The distribution of funds based on the acreage of land holdings continues to be the established practice, ensuring that assistance reaches farmers proportionately.

Niranjan Reddy said Telangana stands out as the only state in the country that provides Rs 10,000 per acre, twice a year, as assistance to farmers. This commitment to supporting farmers is reflected in various initiatives, including Rythu Bima (farmers' insurance), uninterrupted quality and free electricity, and continuous water supply for irrigation. These efforts highlight Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's unwavering dedication to the well-being of farmers and the growth of the agricultural sector, he said.

The minister further stated, “The completion of pending projects and the availability of irrigation water due to the construction of the Kaleshwaram project have resulted in increased cultivation and a remarkable surge in paddy production in Telangana".