BJP seeks Governor’s intervention to get relief for rain-hit farmers

Hyderabad, Nov 20 : The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders called on Governor ESL Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday seeking immediate release of input subsidy for farmers with enhancement and a scientific assessment of crop damage due to cyclone and heavy rains.

In their memorandum, the BJP leaders said that due to heavy rains, crops like paddy, cotton, jowar, red grams, maize, groundnut, soya bean and horticulture crops were completely decimated. While it was a complete wash out in some areas, grains got discolored due to incessant soaking in some other areas. In certain areas grains started sprouting. “Immediately after the floods there have been statements from the government that it would standby the farmers and would buy the grains for MSP irrespective of the state of the crop. However, neither the government departments nor the private agencies have come forward to buy leaving the farmers in a lurch. The CCI is reluctant to procure the colour changed cotton,” they said.

The BJP leaders alleged that the Agriculture Department was unable to complete the enumeration of damaged crop due to shortage of staff. “One month after the flood, the Central Government team is now visiting the affected areas. It is reliably learnt that the State Government machinery is not assisting the Central team in assessing the crop loss due to shortage of staff,” they said while alleging that the local political leaders were meddling with the list at the expense of genuine farmers who lost crops.

They requested the Governor to instruct the State Government to address the issues of farmers affected by floods. “We request you to instruct the government to assess the crop damage scientifically as per the cost of cultivation and help the farmers. The district-wise crop loss assessment report submitted to the Centre by the State Government is far from reality. In most of the districts crops only in the fields are calculated but not harvested and kept at market yards, which also damaged due to heavy rains. We request you to advise the Central team to calculate the crops damaged at market yard,” the BJP leaders said.

The BJP leaders also requested the Governor to request the Government of India to release the funds for input subsidy to help the farmers. “The loss should be treated as national disaster and assistance has to be provided to rescue the farmers. Input subsidy has to be provided at the rate of minimum Rs 15,000 per acre, irrespective of percentage of crop damage, whose crop / harvested crop is damaged due to cyclone. All crop loans should waived and an assistance of Rs 15,000 per acre should be given to all the farmers who have not availed bank loans. The seed and fertilizer should be provided on 90 per cent subsidy for Rabi crop and Rs.10,000 crores should be released immediately from the Centre for input subsidy to help the farmers,” they said.

The delegation comprised of BJP State President G Kishan Reddy, floor leader E Lakshminarayana, party’s National Vice-President Bandaru Dattatreyya and other leaders. INN