YSRCP Targets Government Over RBKs and Farm Welfare

A fresh political confrontation over the state of agriculture unfolded on Tuesday as the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) accused the coalition government of neglecting farmers and weakening key support mechanisms that were established to safeguard rural livelihoods.

Addressing a press conference at the party's central office in Tadepalli , YSRCP State spokesperson Gudapureddy Veerashekhar Reddy alleged that the agricultural sector has come under increasing strain since the coalition government assumed power. He claimed that farmers across Andhra Pradesh are grappling with rising input costs, marketing challenges and the erosion of institutional support that once served as a backbone for the farming community.

Veerashekhar Reddy said Andhra Pradesh remains predominantly an agricultural state, with nearly 65 per cent of families dependent on farming and allied activities for their livelihood. In such a scenario, he argued, any weakening of farmer-centric institutions would have a direct impact on rural incomes and economic stability.

A major point of criticism was the functioning of the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) , which were established to provide a range of services including the supply of seeds and fertilizers, agricultural advisory support and assistance with crop procurement. According to the YSRCP leader, the centres played a crucial role in helping farmers access government services and agricultural inputs during the previous administration. However, he alleged that the current government has failed to preserve their effectiveness, leaving farmers to struggle for essential supplies and support.

The opposition leader also questioned the implementation of the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, which replaced the earlier Rythu Bharosa programme. While the government has promoted the scheme as a major welfare initiative, Veerashekhar Reddy alleged that many eligible farmers have yet to receive the full benefits promised under it. He further claimed that initiatives such as interest-free crop loans , free crop insurance and crop loss compensation have lost momentum under the present administration.

Highlighting market-related concerns, he said cultivators growing paddy, maize, bengal gram, banana, tobacco, tomato and mango are struggling to obtain remunerative prices for their produce. He alleged that inadequate market intervention has left many farmers vulnerable to fluctuating prices and shrinking profit margins.

Veerashekhar Reddy also drew attention to the difficulties faced by aqua farmers , stating that rising feed costs continue to affect profitability despite assurances of relief measures. He expressed particular concern over the plight of Totapuri mango growers , especially in Chittoor district , where procurement delays have reportedly left hundreds of tractor-loads of produce waiting outside processing units.

Alleging that some RBK facilities are being diverted for non-agricultural purposes, the YSRCP leader urged the government to take immediate steps to strengthen farmer support systems and address the growing concerns of cultivators across the state.