CM to keep aside Rs 4,000 crore to provide bonus to farmers

Hyderabad, Mar 7 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy todday said about Rs 4,000 crore will to provide bonus to farmers.

Dr Reddy mooted that 10 per cent bonus should be given to the farmers on the basis of their sale of foodgrains to registered buyers who have TIN (Tax Index Numbers).

The Chief Minister, who reviewed these proposals with Ministers and officials, said all the issues related to it should be thoroughly discussed in a brainstorming session by the officials concerned along with the Adviser to the Government. Chief Minister asked them to submit a comprehensive concept paper by next Saturday.

This would be reviewed and discussed in detail before being presented in the Assembly, which was in session now for further discussion.

Dr Reddy reiterated that his decision would help all the farmers including the tenant farmers and those who might not be benefitted by the loan waiver scheme announced in the Union Budget presented on February 29.

The Chief Minister said that he has mooted the idea of bonus for farmers for their produce, which would not only help boost the agricultural production but also stabilize the prices of foodgrains in the market. His idea is to get reasonable price for the consumers and remunerative prices for the farmers, he added.

However, he wanted a Commission to decide over the per centage of bonus for various agricultural produce. ''Agriculture is the backbone of State's economy and development and farmer is the 'annadata' of the state,'' he added.

Dr Reddy asked for suggestions from the officials for smooth and successive implementation of the scheme.

UNI BR GKT 1845