Bhatti urged to allocate special funds to agriculture allied sectors

Farmers Commission Chairman urges Deputy CM to allocate more funds to agriculture, prioritize horticultural crops, and implement subsidy schemes.

Farmers Commission Chairman Kodanda Reddy met Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and urged him to allocate more funds to agriculture and its allied sectors in the budget.

Mr. Kodanda Reddy shared the details of an opinion poll conducted by the Commission touring the State at the field-level meeting farmers, agriculturists and tenant farmers. He said that priority should be given to vegetables, fruits and orchards.

He said that subsidy schemes should be implemented for farmers to increase the area under horticultural crops and increase the yield. However, he said that priority be given to farmers who depend on groundwater. Similarly, he reminded that most of the farmers were inclined towards natural farming.

Mr. Kodanda Reddy suggested that farmers cultivating horticultural crops should be linked to employment guarantee under MNREGA. Those who cultivate turmeric, vegetables and flower gardens also need mechanization methods. If the government provides subsidy to farmers to set it up, horticultural crop production will increase further, he said.

The Deputy CM responded positively to the suggestions by the Farmers Commission, a statement said.