Agriculture and allied sectors received a total of Rs 43,052.78 crore in the Andhra Pradesh government's 2022–23 budget, which was presented to the State Legislative Assembly on Friday.
Among the major allocations are ₹ 12,285.70 crores for agriculture, ₹ 11,450.94 crores for uninterrupted supply of irrigation water for rabi crop 2021–22, ₹ 8,328.89 crores for MGNREGS, ₹ 5,000 crores for YSR Uchita Vyavasaya Vidyut Pathakam, ₹ 1,027.82 crores for animal husbandry, ₹ 614.23 crore for marketing, ₹ 554.04 crores for horticulture, ₹ 421.15 crores for Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, ₹ 337.23 crore for fisheries, ₹ 248.45 crore for cooperatives, ₹ 146.41 crores for food processing, ₹ 122.50 crores for Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, ₹ 98.99 crores for sericulture, ₹ 59.91 crores for Dr YSR Horticulture University, and ₹ 50 crores for bore wells under YSR Jala Kala.
In 2021–22, the budget for agricultural and allied sectors was ₹ 31,256.35 crore, however it was lowered to ₹ 27,993.93 crore.
Agricultural minister Kurasala Kannababu, who presented the agriculture and allied sectors budget separately before the assembly, stated, "If the ruler thinks about giving priority to farmers' welfare and there is also sufficient rainfall, farmers would enjoy a bountiful crop."
He emphasised that Rythu Bharosa Kendralu (RBKS) is attracting the attention of the whole nation, with praise from experts, scientists, other state political leaders, and even NABARD and NIti Ayog. This is because RBKs are reacting to farmer demands within a 48-hour turnaround from ploughing to harvesting. In 2021–22, these centres delivered 8.95 lakh quintals of subsidised seeds to 15.11 lakh farmers.
Despite natural disasters, AP produced the greatest food grain output of 175 lakh metric tonnes in 2019–20, compared to 165 lakh MT in 2020–21, according to Kannababu. In 2021–22, they anticipate an output of 179 lakh MT. The new paddy procurement strategy helped obtain 44,000 crore worth of paddy in 33 months, compared to 43,000 crore worth of paddy procured by the previous TD government during its five-year tenure.
Government Announces MSP For 6 More Crops
The state government has set a minimum support price for six more crops, including ₹ 7,000 per quintal for chillies, ₹ 6,850 for turmeric, ₹ 4,500 for groundnut, ₹ 2,500 for minor millets, ₹ 1,400 for sweet orange, ₹ 800 for banana, and ₹ 770 for onions.
It also stated that it will establish second food processing plants in every parliamentary constituencies so that farmers could get the most money from their produce by adding value.
Opposition Telugu Desam members raised a ruckus when the agriculture minister said that their government is not interested in using rain guns to combat drought and slammed the previous TD regime for issuing a GO on March 10, 2019 to waive off farm loans while poll notification was issued the same evening. In the State Legislative Council, animal husbandry minister Seediri Appalaraju proposed the same agricultural and allied sectors budget.
