Farmers Terrified To Sow For The Next Crop

Hyderabad: The situation of farmers in the state is deteriorating by the day under Chandrababu’s rule. Having fallen victim to the betrayal of Chandrababu in the name of loan waiver, they are terrified to initiate the new season’s crop production.

The general system of agriculture

Farmers have been utilising banking services for agricultural expenditure since many years. During the rule of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, he took many measures in their benefit. He encouraged bankers to establish branches in rural areas. This increased access to the banks for farmers. Loans used to be available free of interest until Rs.1 lakh and for 0.25% interest between Rs.1-3 lakh. The farmers were able to pay their loans before the season ended and were able to go for new loans again. The banks also used to benefit due to the increasing number of borrowers for every season, thereby increasing the loan target.

Result of Chandrababu’s backstabbing

Believing in Chandrababu’s promise about waiver of loans, the farmers stopped paying interest, giving way to piling up of penalties and compound interests. The farmers are not able to approach the banks due to the already-piled up loans with 14-18% interest. Last year Rs.56,000 crore of target was set to loan to farmers, but only Rs.7000 crore reached the farmers. So the farmers have no option but to approach moneylenders.

Lack of moneylenders due to sex racket

Chandrababu raised curtains to a new drama when the TDP leaders’ Call Money sex racket surfaced. He ordered for attacks on moneylenders throughout the state. The police filed cases against small scale lenders. This has put a halt to their activities since last year. Only the large scale moneylenders belonging to TDP have survived. The farmers approaching these lenders are obviously imposed with high rates of interest.

Disinterest in agriculture

There is no assistance in the form of input subsidy either. As a result of lack of availability of money to invest, the farmers are unable to dare to sow for their next crop.