Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu rebuts YSRCP charge on crop loss compensation to farmers
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu has strongly rebutted allegations by the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) that the state government failed to compensate farmers for crop losses caused by natural calamities.
Responding to criticism raised by YSRCP members in the Legislative Council, the minister said the claims were misleading and ignored the relief measures already implemented by the current coalition government. He asserted that the government has been extending financial assistance and input subsidies to farmers affected by floods, cyclones and other disasters.
Atchannaidu said the present government has significantly increased compensation for crop losses. According to him, the input subsidy for affected farmers has been raised to ₹25,000 per hectare, compared with ₹12,000 per hectare during the previous YSRCP regime. He noted that the earlier TDP government had increased the subsidy to ₹17,000, but it was later reduced by the previous administration.
The minister highlighted that the government conducted prompt surveys after disasters such as floods and completed crop loss assessments within a week. He cited the Budameru floods as an example, saying the state had distributed around ₹370 crore as compensation to affected farmers.
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Atchannaidu also accused the previous YSRCP government of failing to pay its share under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for several years, which disrupted crop insurance coverage for farmers. The current government, he said, has revived the scheme in coordination with the Centre to ensure better protection for farmers against crop losses.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, the minister said relief and compensation would continue to be provided swiftly whenever natural calamities damage crops. He urged opposition leaders not to spread misinformation and assured that the government remains focused on safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods.
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