Telangana Releases ₹2,482 Crore Rythu Bharosa Aid to 41 Lakh Farmers

Reinforcing its commitment to the farming community ahead of the kharif cultivation season, the Telangana government on Tuesday launched the first phase of the enhanced Rythu Bharosa investment support scheme, transferring ₹2,482.02 crore directly into the bank accounts of 41.37 lakh farmers across the state.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy formally released the funds at a state-level Rythu Bharosa Conference held at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad. The event was streamed live through nearly 1,600 Rythu Vedikas , enabling farmers from every district to participate virtually.

The disbursement marks the beginning of a larger exercise under which the government plans to release nearly ₹9,000 crore over the next nine days, providing crucial financial support to cultivators as they prepare for the ongoing agricultural season. Officials said the assistance would help farmers meet rising input costs, including expenditure on seeds, fertilizers, labour and other farm operations.

Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said the government views agriculture as the backbone of Telangana's economy and is focused on making farming both profitable and sustainable. He noted that the state had spent nearly ₹1.75 lakh crore on agriculture and allied sectors during the last 30 months , reflecting what he described as an unprecedented commitment to rural development.

Highlighting key welfare measures, the Chief Minister said the government had implemented a crop loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh , benefiting 25.35 lakh farmers at a cost of ₹20,677 crore . He also stated that pending farmer-support dues worth ₹7,000 crore from previous years had been cleared.

The government recently enhanced Rythu Bharosa assistance from ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 per acre annually , making it one of the country's largest direct farm investment support programmes. According to the Chief Minister, cumulative transfers under the scheme will now cross ₹36,000 crore following the latest release.

He further highlighted that the state had spent around ₹4,000 crore as crop bonus payments , ₹2,000 crore on agricultural equipment support , and ₹3,500 crore towards crop insurance initiatives . In addition, more than ₹80,000 crore had been paid to farmers through paddy procurement operations during the past two-and-a-half years.

Pointing to Telangana's agricultural achievements, Revanth Reddy said the state had emerged as the largest producer of paddy in the country , recording an output of 2.88 crore metric tonnes . He credited farmers, improved agricultural support systems and policy interventions for the achievement.

The Chief Minister also urged cultivators to remain alert to evolving weather conditions. Referring to warnings from climate experts about the possible impact of El Niño , he advised farmers to consider crop diversification , efficient water management and climate-resilient farming practices to safeguard yields.

Emphasising the government's long-term vision, Revanth Reddy said efforts would continue to ensure that farmers can pursue agriculture with dignity and financial security. "The goal is not merely to support cultivation, but to strengthen rural livelihoods and make agriculture a sustainable source of prosperity," he said.

Among those present at the event were Legislative Council Chairman Gutta Sukender Reddy , Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka , Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao , Uttam Kumar Reddy , Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy , Vakiti Srihari , Mohammed Azharuddin , and Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju , along with several public representatives and farmer leaders.