Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Minister of Agriculture K. Atchannaidu has made it clear that the state government is ready to support the horticulture farmers through increasing subsidies on micro-irrigation tools like drips and sprinklers systems. While speaking in the Council he stressed that the government has a concrete plan to boost the production of horticulture crops all over the state.
The minister explained that farmers from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities will get a 100% subsidy on drips and sprinklers. Farmers in the Rayalaseema region with 5 to 10 acres of land will now get up to 90% subsidy, an increase from the earlier 70% limit for five-acre farms. Other farmers with less than five acres of land will receive a 40% subsidy on micro-irrigation tools.
The government has set up seven crop-specific clusters in several districts to boost horticulture in the state. Several fruits and spices such as banana, chilli, tomato, cashew nut, turmeric, coconut, and cocoa will be cultivated on a large-scale. The minister went on to say that the state is awaiting details of a central government initiative that will provide financial aid for cluster development.
Comparing past and present efforts, the minister said that the previous YSRC government implemented micro-irrigation on 2.9 lakh hectares in five years, while the current administration has achieved one lakh hectares in just eight months. He also highlighted that the previous government left unpaid dues of Rs 1,167 crore, but the present government has already cleared Rs 450 crore to restore the subsidy scheme.
This initiative will certainly boost the horticulture sector in the state as well make farmers economically sound.
