Progressive ryots deplore imposition of new conditions

Progressive farmers have decried the stringent conditions imposed by the Government for developing green house cultivation in Telangana in a big way. “Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao inspires the farmers, but the officials dampen the spirit,” Kandala Bal Reddy, General Secretary of Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (Telangana) bemoaned.

Referring to the earlier order, Mr. Reddy said that guidelines had said that all farmers were eligible for 75 per cent subsidy on `green house' cultivation. The only condition was farmer should own the land in his name and should have water resource and electricity. Further, the order had said that each farmer was eligible for a minimum of 200 square metres and maximum of three acres.

The idea behind encouraging `green house' was to produce and supply variety of quality vegetables throughout the year to the people of Hyderabad.

The said programme is implemented by Government of India by giving a 50 per cent subsidy, and the Telangana Government proposed to take up green house cultivation in an area of 1,000 acres with enhanced subsidy of 75 per cent and maximum eligibility of three acres per farmer.

The Association general secretary lamented that a month ago instructions were issued making certain category of farmers ineligible, including Government employees and their dependent family members, income tax payers and businessmen. The association sought a clarification whether these conditions were imposed with the knowledge of the Chief Minister or some bureaucrat had decided on the conditions.

Mr. Bal Reddy said that it was wrong to say that the scheme evoked poor response as the farmers were not in a position to pay a huge contribution of Rs.10 lakh per acre. “It is official apathy and impractical conditions that created apprehensions and distrust in the minds of the farmers,” he said.

He wondered whether politicians, bureaucrats or businessmen would invest Rs. 30 lakh to produce vegetables in mere three acres of land because of the huge risk involved. He said that the restrictions imposed by the Horticulture Department are ill-advised and ridiculous.

The Association demanded immediate withdrawal of the conditions and urged the Chief Minister to remove the hurdles and for speedy implementation of the project.