C Pradeep Kumar
Vijayawada
The Agriculture sector is one of the ‘Nine Jewels’ (Navaratnalu) that received top priority from the State government after assuming power in 2019. Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the YSRCP government introduced a groundbreaking initiative known as Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBK). This initiative was aimed at fortifying the agricultural sector and uplifting millions of farmers across the State.
In May 2020, the State government established Rythu Bharosa Kendras, which have since evolved into comprehensive hubs meticulously designed to cater to a wide spectrum of farmer needs. This holistic approach has borne significant fruit, benefiting an impressive cumulative total of 1.43 crore beneficiaries and providing a wide array of services valued at Rs 48,861 crores through 10,778 RBKs spread across the State.
The success story of RBKs continues to unfold, setting an inspirational precedent for other states. It encourages them to adopt similar strategies to revitalize their own agricultural sectors and contribute to overall growth.
-RBKs offer a range of services, extending from disaster relief to robust financial programs, positioning them not only as agricultural hubs but also as crucial lifelines for farmers across Andhra Pradesh.
The primary objective of RBKs transcends the traditional notion of being mere distribution points for agricultural inputs. These centres embody a multifaceted approach that encompasses various aspects of agricultural well-being. RBKs provide vital support to farmers in several ways:
RBKs have granted access to premium-quality fertilisers, pesticides, and subsidised seeds to a staggering 24,26,415 farmers, amounting to a substantial value of over Rs 1,044.84 crore.
The Dr YSR Polambadi initiative has empowered an impressive 15,10,830 farmers, contributing Rs. 2,646.21 crores to their well-being. Additionally, the issuance of Crop Cultivators’ Right Cards (CCRC) has brought clarity to the positions of 5,55,934 farmers.
More than 3.5 million farmers (35,08,000) have availed procurement services valued at an impressive Rs 66,484 crore. Furthermore, over 3 million farmers have found security through services encompassing crop insurance and disaster relief, amounting to Rs 3,834.09 crore.
RBKs are dedicated to nurturing knowledge and skills, as evident in the 62,364 farmers who have benefited from farm mechanization and training services, totaling Rs 5.1 crore.
Leveraging technology, RBKs have facilitated virtual pest and disease diagnosis via WhatsApp calls, providing 11,262 farmers with crucial guidance.
RBKs have emerged as knowledge hubs, offering services such as telecasts of relevant content, method demonstrations, and vital information on agricultural practices.
A farmer from Vuyyuru in the Krishna district, M J Rao, lauded the services of RBK for supplying quality seeds and fertilizers, as well as for facilitating the procurement of paddy produce. He commended the government’s provision of gunny bags through RBKs and covered the transportation expenses to rice mills. This marked a significant improvement compared to the challenges faced by farmers during the previous administration.
MVS Nagi Reddy, Vice Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Agriculture Mission, said that RBK is the brainchild of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and the first of its kind in the country. The RBK system received accolades even from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised the introduction of the ‘e-crop’ system in Andhra Pradesh. This system is set to be adopted nationwide, benefiting farmers by simplifying input subsidy processes and more.
Nagi Reddy further highlighted that RBKs, staffed with qualified B.Sc. agriculture/horticulture graduates, play a pivotal role in educating, training, and advising farmers on crop selection and timing to maximise benefits.
