The Andhra Pradesh Government has proposed a Budget of ₹29,159 crore for agriculture and allied sectors in the State for the financial year 2020-21.
Presenting the Budget in Amaravati on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister K Kannababu said that the State proposed a ₹3,000-crore price stabilisation fund to protect farmers from price fluctuations.
The Minister proposed a sum of ₹6,885 crore for Rythu Bharosa (financial assistance to farmers for purchasing inputs) and ₹1,000 crore to provide interest-free loans to farmers.
He said the State disbursed ₹6,500 crore to about 46.69 lakh farmers under the scheme last year.
The State will allot ₹20 crore towards ex-gratia payments to the kin of farmers that commit suicides. “Despite providing financial assistance some farmers are resorting to suicides. We are providing ex-gratia to the kin in such cases,” he said.
Natural farming
The State will spend ₹225 crore to promote natural farming and ₹142 crore for promoting sustainable agriculture. “We will set up a Natural Farming Research, Training and Knowledge Centre in Rayaseema,” the Minister said.
While the Agriculture Department will get ₹15,400 crore, the Horticulture Department will be sanctioned ₹653 crore for 2020-21.
The Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) will get ₹402 crore for 2020-21, while the YSR Horticultural University will get ₹89 crore.