Farmers’ leaders and non-governmental organisations have asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to address issues that are dogging agriculture in the State as it prepares an exclusive Budget for agriculture.

They have asked the Government to set up an Rs 1,000-crore fund for market stabilisation and an equal sum to act as guarantee to banks that give loans to tenant farmers.

They have also asked the Government to protect farmers from exploitation by seed companies.

Solar pumpset policy

At a meeting held here on Monday to discuss the Budget proposals, Agriculture Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana said the Government would propose a price stabilisation fund and come up with a solar pumpset policy.

Rythu Swarajya Vedika has demanded that the Government allocate Rs 13,500 crore for agriculture and allied sectors (excluding irrigation). “The sector (agri and allied) got about Rs 5,500 crore last year. This is not enough to address the complex issues it is facing,” Kiran Vissa, Convener of the Vedika, said.

Rainfed agriculture

Besides ensuring remunerative prices, the Agriculture Budget should focus on rainfed agriculture and establish a credit guarantee fund for tenant farmers, the farmers’ leaders said.

They also called for promotion of sustainable agriculture by making efforts to improve soil fertility and organic matter.

“Integrated agricultural budget has to be aligned with agricultural calendar. Presently, budget approval happens in March, and actual flows to departments usually happen by June or July. However, preparations for agri-production have to be made in March to June period.

Hence, financial year planning has to be aligned with agricultural seasons,” D. Narasimha Reddy, an agriculture economist, said.

M. Venkat Srinivas Reddy of Kisan-Kheth Mazdoor Congress (a Congress party arm) asked the Government to bring sugar under the purview of Agriculture Ministry from the Ministry of Industries.

> kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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