Government plans to do away with ‘Adarsha Rythu’

The Government of Telangana is seriously considering doing away with the ‘Adarsha Rythu’ (model farmer) system introduced in the combined Andhra Pradesh in 2007 to facilitate effective extension reach to the farming community and to replace it with an alternative network.

A decision and necessary government orders are likely to be issued in a couple of days.

The exercise by Telangana Government closely comes on the heels of a similar decision taken by the AP Government on September 19 abolishing the existing system.

“It has been on the mind of the new dispensation ever since Telangana State was formed on June 2 as there have been large-scale allegations against the appointment of model farmers, the system that cost Rs. 60 crore annual to combined AP,” a senior government official told The Hindu on Sunday. After bifurcation, the cost of the system is being shared in 40:60 ratio by the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments.

Though the concept was good, its implementation was politicised by fixing the eligibility of model farmers as SSC pass.

Political discretion

Most of the appointments were not made on merit basis and many who were not engaged in agriculture as a practice/profession were made model farmers as political discretion had its way.

“What is required is a system wherein extension workers, whatever name they are given, address the immediate needs of farmers during the agricultural season and sensitise them on timely crop protection and productivity. However, such work can be done only by persons with related qualification and not just anybody,” the official sources said.

Apart from graduates in agriculture and allies courses, a large number of youth are being rolled by polytechnics in agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and related subjects every year and they fit-in the role of extension workers perfectly and such qualified candidates will be useful to agriculture sector.

In all, 19,722 model farmers were appointed in Telangana with a monthly honorarium of Rs. 1,000 against planned deployment of 20,000 in 2007 and 2008 but the existing strength is about 17,000.