VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that the financial assistance for farmers under Annadata Sukhibhava Scheme will be increased from Rs 4,000 to Rs 9,000. This is apart from the Rs 6 ,000 assistance announced by the Union government for the farmers holding less than 5 acres of land. The total financial assistance to the farmers has now reached to Rs 15,000 for every farmer in the state.The decision came after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) politburo meeting here on Saturday. Majority of the politburo members said that the decision to give Rs 4,000 along with the central government’s Rs 6,000 did not go well with the farmers. Naidu criticised the Union government that Rs 6,000 financial amount is meagre and is not sufficient enough to address the problems of the farmers.As the feedback from the farmers was not so encouraging, the TDP politburo suggested to tweak Annadata Sukhibhava Scheme to give more financial assistance without including the Centre’s scheme. Taking the mixed opinions being expressed over the flagship programme, Naidu announced that the amount to be given from the state government has been increased to Rs 9,000.The chief minister has further said that the decision was taken keeping in view of the problems being faced by the small and marginal farmers. While the farmers with the less than 5 acres of land holding will get Rs 15,000 including the central government’s aid, those who were having more than 5 acres will get an amount of Rs 10,000 from the state government he said.As many as 69 lakh farmers will get benefit from the state government scheme. The decision to give additional financial assistance to the farmers will increase the burden from Rs 2760 crore to Rs 6360 crore on the state exchequer. The amount will be disbursed in three instalments along with the Centre’s money for small and marginal farmers. Those who were having more than 5 acres will get Rs 10,000 in two instalments.Agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said they are also working on plan to extend financial assistance to tenant farmers from the upcoming Khariff season.

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