Keywords

1 Introduction

In our state more than 70% of the rural population depends on Agriculture and Allied activities. When farmer suffers from unexpected natural disasters like failure of monsoons (low rainfall-drought) and heavy rainfall, floods, etc., then agriculture sector gets affected by less yield and productivity. In the drought situation majority of the wells, ponds lakes, or reservoirs levels sinks and farmer livelihood gets affected. During this particular time, the farmer needs better support from the Government and for his existence and survival, to continue agriculture.

Perennial rivers like Godavari and Krishna are facilitating huge amount of water. Generally, the reservoirs are constructed for multiple purposes usage, i.e., irrigation and drinking water. Availability of water is not enough for the farmer; they need economical support to cope up with their life. Our state and central government have been implementing many farmers-based schemes, i.e., free power, subsidy-based fertilizers, agriculture tools, credit facility for farmers, crop insurance schemes, tractors to farmers, PM Kisan Mann Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Krushi Sinchai Yojana, etc. Among these schemes, some of them got benefited.

Among all, one of the recent initiatives is Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) and PM Kisan Scheme. These two schemes are very important and helpful to the country farmers. Under PMKSY, every agriculture field gets water. It is also called “Har Khet Ko pani,” which aims to improve water use efficiency by more crops per drop. Another scheme is PM Kisan Scheme, which is providing Rs. 6,000/- per year as a minimum income to the less than two hectares of landholding farmers. In a similar way Telangana state is also providing schemes to farmers but in this study, we consider only Mission Kakatiya which is renovation of tanks and Rhythu Bandu programmes to support farmers economically in the state.

2 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this paper is to know the progress of work under Mission Kakatiya and to assess the implementation of farmer support initiative Rythu Bandhu programme.

3 Methodology

This paper is analyzed on primary and secondary data basis. The secondary data has been taken from Telangana Statistical Abstract and Socio Economic Outlook of Telangana state. The primary data was collected through the questionnaire, which was prepared. A total of 300 farmers were taken as samples (100 samples from each agro-climatic region of Telangana, i.e., Northern, Central and Southern agro-climatic regions) for the study in various districts of Telangana. The secondary data was collected and data tabulated and generated tables and charts.

4 Context of Study Area

Telangana state has 1, 12,077 sq. km area and having 3.5 crore people. Nearly 70% of people are engaged in the primary activity. The state receives a maximum of 80% rainfall during the southwest monsoon period and the remaining 20% received in the other seasons. It varies from district to district, which is received between 800 and 1200 mm.

Previously, the state received deficit rainfall. During this deficit rainfall period, the farmers of Telangana faced a lot of problems and many farmers committed suicide; because they were depending on the private financiers for the agriculture investments at high interest rates. Due to the loss of crop, they didn’t repay the financiers. Hence the Telangana state government has introduced many farmers-supported schemes across the state. They are like; Mission Kakatiya, Haritha Haram Rythubandu and Rythubheema. In this context schemes like Mission Kakatiya and Rythubandu are analyzed below.

5 Results and Discussion

Status and work progress of Mission Kakatiya programme since the formation of Telangana: This programme was started in March 2015 which is the first programme to be taken by the Government of Telangana. The main objective of Mission Kakatiya is to enhance the agriculture-based income for small and marginal farmers, by accelerating the development of minor irrigation infrastructure, strengthening community-based irrigation management and adopting a wide-ranging programme for restoration of tanks. A total of 60,000 tanks were surveyed in the state. In Siddipet district, there are about 4,848 tanks, having the highest number of tanks followed by Medak, Bhadradri, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts, the lowest number of tanks are surveyed in Adilabad, Rajanna, Hanamkonda, Jogulamba, Medchal and Hyderabad in the given Table 12.1.

Table 12.1 District wise tanks and its Ayacut details in Telangana State
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The Mission Kakatiya programme was implemented phase wise in the state. A total of 7,991 tank works were started, in first phase and almost 93% of tank works were finished. In second phase nearly 75% tanks; in third and fourth phase, 43 and 32% of the commenced tanks works have completed. It is observed 40% (18,738) tanks works have been completed, in the state (Table 12.2 and Fig. 12.1).

Table 12.2 Details of phase wise covered tanks and its status in Telangana State
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Fig. 12.1
A grouped bar graph plots the number of work progress versus phases from 1 to 4 for works commenced and work completed. The highest number of work commenced is in phase 2 of 8975 and for works completed is in phase 2 of 7660. The lowest number of work commenced and work completed is in phase 4.

(Source Mission Kakatiya, Telangana State, 2021)

Phase wise work progress of the Mission Kakatiya Programme

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It was observed that the Gross Area Irrigated (GAI) increased from the 53.2 lakh hectares to 113.2 lakh hectares from 2014–2015, to 2019–2020, During the same period, there is good improvement in the Net Area Sown which has increased from 43.8 lakhs hectares to 71.71 lakhs hectares. It is observed that implementation of Mission Kakatiya programme is one of the main factor in the increase of ground water levels and nearly 2.9 lakh of hectares of ayacut under the irrigation facilities. State government has introduced Rythubandu programme which ensures to the farmers to not fall in to the debt trap. The scheme is also called “Agriculture Investment Support Scheme” (“Rythu Bandhu”). It is also implemented across the state in the year 2018–2019 Karif season onwards. Initially they gave 4,000 per acre with no minimum and maximum land limitation and then in 2017 they increased 1,000 per acre with an Rs 5000/- per acre,

The socio-economic report (2019) reveals that, under the Rythu Bandu scheme, the government identified a total 51.5 lakh farmers in the state and paid nearly 5,300 crore rupees during the 2018–2019 Karif season, whereas in Rabi season, 49.0 lakh farmers were benefitted. According to Socio-economic outlook—2021, the Government has transferred Rs. 14,651 crore rupees to 59.3 lakh farmers across the state. Later also the scheme covered almost Rs. 7,515 crores spent on the 61.5 lakh farmers.

6 Primary Data Results

Age group: 62% of the respondents are in the age group between 25 and 45 years and most of them are marginal and small farmers.

Awareness about the Government prestigious schemes: 93% of respondents have excellent knowledge of the prestigious government programmes. Because practically everyone exposed the programme, including Rythu Bandu, Rythu Bheema, Haritha Haram, Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya. Among these, the two primary programmes that support farmers are Rythu Bandu and Mission Kakatiya.

Respondents view regarding Work progresss of Mission Kakatiya: In this regard, asked about the Mission Kakatiya works were commenced or not, in your residing villages. Out of 300 respondents, 96 of the respondents have mentioned that, the works were commenced and finished, only 4% respondents said, either works are not commenced or there is no tanks in the their villages. The respondents have given different responses on the benefit of the Mission Kakatiya programme.

View of respondents on Impact of Mission Kakatiya: 89% of respondents said Ground water levels have increased, created labour employment, siltation was done and there is impact on production of crop and 11% of the respondonents gave negative feedback and some of them not responded, stating that farmers didn't benefit from it and that contractors instead gained financially. But majority of the respondents mentioned that, the Mission Kakatiya is the good programme and it has given wonderful results in the state. According to them, after tanks rejuvenation works finished, the following benefits are received by the farmers and people. (1) The ground water levels increased in and around the tanks. (2) The siltation soil is given boosting to the high crop yielding, (3) Better thing is the prestigious scheme has created good employment during the drought and other situation.

Suggestions from respondents for the betterment of Mission Kakatiya Programme: Based on the primary data, total one third of the respondents have given suggestions on the betterment of the programme. A one fifth of the respondents said, government should focus on the depth of the tanks, which is not maintained properly in the digging process and also government should provide free distribution of soils to the needy farmers. 13% people are requesting to the government, along with tanks beautification and need to clean canal network and work also commenced by every year. Interestingly, 5% people requesting for, commencement of tank works under the Mission Kakatiya programme in their villages.

Possessing the agriculture land: 86% of the respondents have their own agricultural land and remaining 14% of the respondents they are leased farmers. If we look in to the acres wise, only 3% farmers own an average of 1acre land. The greatest (30%) percentage farmers have 1–3 acres land, and the remaining one fifth of respondents owning holdings between 3 and 5 acres. 4% of the respondents possessed more than 5 acres of land (Fig. 12.2).

Fig. 12.2
A bar graph plots the axis title versus agricultural land. 3% of farmers have an average of 1 acre of land. 30% of farmers have 1 to 3 acres of land, and 20% hold between 3 and 5 acres. 4% holds more than 5 acres of land. 36% holds not applicable, and no holds 6%.

(Source Primary data)

Possessing the agriculture land (%)

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Rythu Bandu scheme: Nearly three-fourth (86%) of the respondents said, they are receiving the Rythu Bandu, timely and rest of the respondents have said that they are not receiving the agriculture investment support money, because of the assigned land or patta-related issues.

Suggestions from the respondents regarding Rythu bandhu: Nearly 60% of the respondents have suggested for the improvement of the farmer's development. Nearly one-fifth (22%) of the respondents suggested that, along with Rythu Bandu scheme, there is a need for other agriculture-based tools (fertilizers and tractors). 12% of respondents said that, the programme is good for all farmers, but there is a need to set up cutoff or maximum limit up to 5 acres land for the scheme eligibility. Only 10% of the respondents suggested that there should be increase in the investment amount up to Rs.10,000/- per acre. Few (5%) of the respondents mentioned that, the government is ignoring the tenant or leased farmers, who also need financial support from the government.

Very interestingly 10% suggested that, the Government has focused on the Agriculture and basic amenities which are very helpful to the needy people but the Govt also needs to concentrate on increasing health, education and employment services (Fig. 12.3).

Fig. 12.3
A bar graph plots the axis title versus the suggestions of respondents. Other subsidy needs, 22%. Focus on health education and employment, 10%. An increase rythu bandu amount, 10%. Need cut off in rythu bandu, 12% . Include tenents, 5%. Not applicable, 41%. Values are approximate.

(Source Primary data)

Suggestions of respondents

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The recent Central government statistics have shown there is a decrease in the pattern of farmer’s suicide. With effective implementation of Rythu Bandhu scheme and other measures initiated for the farmers by the government, it is seen that farmers suicide in Telangana has a steep decline from 846 cases in 2017 to 491 cases in 2019. As per National Crime Bureau, Telangana state records the lowest number of farmer's suicide among major states.

7 Conclusion

Based on the previous experience, the state government has taken many good initiatives for the development of the farmers, in Telangana state. The study concluded that Mission Kakatiya programme has succeeded to rejuvenate the tanks, which is helping to increase the ground water levels and ayacut, across the State. Many states from the country have come to Telangana state and observed its implementation. Regarding the Rythu Bandu scheme, most of the community people like; Agency people, and tenant people who are having the forest land and actual cultivators are exempted from the prestigious Rythu Bandu Scheme. If government is implementing the scheme to tenant farmers, roughly 7.5–8.0 lakh tenant farmers will be benefitted. The socially and economically vulnerable people need support from the government to cope up their livelihoods. The primary data reveals that, majority of the farmers are requesting that, there is need to put cut off or maximum limit of 5 acres, which is imposed in the Central scheme, i.e., PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. It is also suggested that, above BPL farmers need to be exempted in this scheme. Government should initiate pension scheme for farmers those who lost assigned lands for the infrastructural development of the area.