Rs 50,000 per Hectare Compensation for Onion Farmers
On Thursday in Vijayawada, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu confirmed that the government has taken historic measures to protect onion farmers suffering from a sharp fall in prices. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced a substantial compensation to support them.
Government Actions to Support Farmers
Atchannaidu stated that the government purchased onions directly from markets to prevent farmers from facing severe losses. Around Rs 18 crore worth of onions were procured from Kurnool markets. So far, Rs 10 crore has been directly deposited into farmers' accounts, with the remaining amount to be paid soon.
Compensation Details
Realizing that market intervention alone was insufficient, the chief minister approved a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for onion farmers, especially benefiting those in Kurnool and Kadapa districts. This move aims to protect thousands from financial hardship.
- Rs 76.16 crore for 23,316 farmers across 15,232 hectares in Kurnool
- Rs 28.41 crore for 6,400 farmers across 5,681 hectares in Kadapa
- Total compensation: Rs 104.57 crore for nearly 30,000 farmers cultivating 20,913 hectares
Atchannaidu emphasized,
“The government is working to release these funds promptly.”
Summary
This significant compensation and procurement effort demonstrate the government’s commitment to easing financial distress among onion farmers in affected districts.