Telangana Spent ₹1.67 Lakh Crore on Agriculture in Two and a Half Years, Says Deputy CM Bhatti

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday said the Congress government has spent ₹1,67,877 crore on the agriculture sector during its two-and-a-half-year tenure, reflecting its commitment to farmer welfare and rural development. He said the government's vision is centred on strengthening agriculture while simultaneously promoting women’s economic empowerment across the state.

Speaking at the Rythu Ashirvada Sabha held in Madhira constituency of Khammam district, alongside Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy , Bhatti said the event itself was a testament to the confidence farmers have placed in the government. He noted that farmers had chosen the name “Rythu Ashirvada Sabha,” making it a people-driven celebration of agricultural progress.

Highlighting the implementation of the Rythu Bharosa scheme, Bhatti drew a comparison with the previous BRS government's Rythu Bandhu programme. He alleged that payments under the earlier scheme often took between 145 and 169 days to reach beneficiaries. In contrast, he said the present government successfully deposited ₹9,000 crore directly into farmers’ bank accounts within just nine days .

According to him, assistance has already been extended to farmers owning up to eight acres of land. On Friday, the government released ₹1,009 crore for farmers holding between nine and 54 acres, covering 16.87 lakh acres , thereby completing the current phase of financial assistance.

Bhatti said the total expenditure of ₹1,67,877 crore on agriculture includes several major interventions such as a ₹21,000-crore farm loan waiver , procurement bonuses for paddy growers, crop insurance support, compensation for crop losses and investments in irrigation projects. He asserted that the government remains firmly committed to protecting farmers' interests and strengthening the agricultural economy.

He also pointed out that Telangana has taken the unusual step of procuring crops such as maize and sorghum , ensuring market support for farmers beyond traditional procurement systems. Referring to irrigation, he said the waters of Nagarjuna Sagar , built during the era of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, continue to sustain lakhs of farmers in Telangana.

Turning to women’s welfare, Bhatti said the government is working to transform women into financially independent contributors to the economy. He noted that interest-free loans for women’s self-help groups have been revived, with more than ₹67,000 crore provided through bank linkages over the last two and a half years. The limit for such loans has also been increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh .

He added that initiatives such as the Mahalakshmi free bus travel scheme , along with opportunities in fuel stations, canteens, power projects and RTC operations, are designed to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women, helping them achieve long-term financial security and growth.