Andhra Pradesh government has not yet taken any decision on the plea to extend debt redemption scheme on crop loans to those living outside A.P. but having agricultural lands in the State, Agriculture Minister P.Pulla Rao said here on Wednesday.
Replying to questions at a press conference here, he made it clear that those with Aadhar card bearing local address were eligible under the scheme. Asked if the agricultural land owners living in Hyderabad with Aadhar cards were eligible, he said majority of such people have given their lands to tenant farmers. There were also instances of Anantapur-based farmers availing of crop loans from banks in Bellary.
He said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was yet to take a decision on the issue.
Answering another question, he denied that government has given instructions to farmers in the capital region not to cultivate crops from next season.
On the fire which destroyed plantations and agricultural implements in six villages in Thullur region, he said it appeared to be a pre-planned incident as it occurred at 13 places from 5 p.m. to midnight. Police have taken five to suspects into custody and were interrogating them.
Mr. Rao, who held a video conference with officials on implementation of various schemes, said teams of extension officials from agriculture, horticulture and other departments have been constituted and each team assigned 25 acres to carry out on-farm demonstrations. government sanctioned Rs.5,000 per hectare.
Government also issued orders for placement of 6354 multi-purpose extension officers on contract basis to facilitate effective extension reach to farming community. He said Rs.140 crore was released towards input subsidy for crops damaged by Hudhud cyclone.
During kharif-2014, the total sown area was 38.87 lakh hectares as against the normal of 41.72 lakh hectares. During rabi till Tuesday, the area sown was 14.90 lakh hectares as against the season normal of 25.89 lakh hectares ( 58 per cent covered).
