RYTHU BHAROSA KENDRAS
Source: The Indian Express
1. CONTEXT
One-stop seeds-to-sales service windows for farmers set up by the AP government have caught the eye of Ethiopia.
2. RYTHU BHAROSA KENDRAS
- Rythu bharosa Kendras are unique seeds-to-sales, single-window service centers for farmers that have been set up across the state. They are the one-stop solution to all farmers' needs and grievances. RBKs sell pre-tested quality seeds, certified fertilizers, and animal feed. Farmers can purchase or hire farm equipment and sell their produce at the prevailing MSP in the RBKs.
- Touted as role models for the country, agriculture and horticulture officials manning the RBKs also provide services like soil testing and make recommendations- on which crops to sow, and the quality and type of fertilizers to be used. The state government also pays crop insurance, produces grains, and makes payments to farmers through RBKs.
3. OBJECTIVE
The government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing "YSR Rythu Bharosa" from October 15th, 2019 for providing financial assistance to the farmer families, including tenant farmers across the state @ Rs.13,500/- per farmer family, per year, to support the cultivators in meeting the investment during the crop season to enable them timely sourcing of quality inputs and services for higher crop productivity.
4. BENEFITS UNDER THE SCHEME
The land-owning farmer families who collectively own cultivable land irrespective of the size of land holdings will be provided a benefit of Rs.13,500/- per year per family duly including Rs. 6000/- from the government of India under PM-KISAN in three installments. The existing validated land ownership database will be used for the identification of beneficiaries under this category of the scheme.
5. Have the RBKs proved to be helpful to farmers?
- RBKs facilitate interaction between farmers, agriculture scientists, and agriculture extension officers right at the village level. Apart from providing services and items for sale, RBK officials demonstrate new farm equipment and provide training to farmers.
- Based on inputs provided by officials after soil testing and weather conditions, many farmers have changed their cropping patterns and benefited immensely, according to the state Agriculture Department. The RBKs have been responsible for the elimination of spurious seeds and uncertified and dangerous fertilizers, which can cause crop damage and failures.
- They also assist in selling their produce at MSPs, through supporting systems of e-cropping, geo-tagging, and the CM App through which payments are made to farmers.
The Ethiopian delegation will visit several RBKs and understand how they function. They will likely sign a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government and center to transfer the know-how, while AP officials will provide training to Ethiopian officials on the operation of RBKs, and share knowledge about the farming systems in the state.
For Prelims & Mains
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For Prelims:
Rythu bharosa kendras, PM Kisan, Geo-tagging, e-cropping
For Mains:
1. What are Rythu Bharosa Kendras? Discuss How RBKs successful in helping farmers? . (250 Words)
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