Farmers Movement Archive

Rythu vedikas Telangana’s answer to Centre’s agri laws; farmers to advise on rates

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government is planning to use the rythu vedikas for marketing agriculture produce. The ruling TRS, which is opposing the new farm laws of the Centre, believes it can win the hearts of the farmers through the move. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is harping on the new farm laws which enable the farmers to directly interact with sellers and sell their produce anywhere, state agriculture officials said the government wants to strike a bond with farmers and rythu vedikas will be the right forum for that. Agriculture minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy said the vedikas would emerge as fora for all agriculture-related discussion among farmers. “Members of Rythu Bandhu Samithis will play an active role in giving market-related advisory to the farmers in various clusters,” he told TOI. In what could be seen as a counter to the new farm laws, farmers who are part of Rythu Bandhu Samithis would advise other agriculturists on the market rates and linkages. “Currently, we are working out the modalities of the vedikas and will come up with detailed guidelines soon,” the minister said. The agriculture department, which is being revamped, will have an IAS officer to look after the separate market research wing which is being created. This wing will pass on information on market rates and opportunities for farmers to sell their produce. While chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is opening the first rythu vedika in Jangaon on Saturday, officials said 2,610 such vedikas would come up across the state. The government has set apart Rs 350 crore for this. KCR instructed the officials to complete all the vedikas as soon as possible so that his regulatory farming plan could be implemented effectively, sources said.

The Times of India

2020-10-31

Hyderabad