Pro-farmer measures led to steep fall in suicides: Agri Minister

‘Schemes like Rythu Bandhu have increased confidence level among ryots’

Agriculture Minister S. Niranjan Reddy has asserted that welfare schemes like Rythu Bandhu have increased the confidence level among farmers and thereby, resulted in steep decline in farmers’ suicides. The statistics presented by the Central government in Parliament on farmers’ suicides were indicative of the proactive steps taken by the State government in making agriculture sector a profitable one. Rythu Bandhu in particular was launched after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao conducted brain storming sessions for six long months to evolve the modalities for the scheme. The scheme subsequently became a role model for other States to emulate and this reflected the foresightedness of Mr. KCR. The Minister, who responded to the Central government’s reply in Parliament, said the government was of the firm belief that improving the rural economy would be possible only through strengthening the agriculture sector. The government had accorded priority to the farm sector employing over 60% of the population and introduced several measures like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Beema, free power and irrigation water to farms besides providing support price to farmers’ produce.