The Chandrababu Naidu–led coalition government, which promised farmers Rs. 20,000 per year under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, has delivered a harsh shock after assuming office. The lofty election assurance, pitched as part of the Super Six guarantees, has turned into a painful betrayal for lakhs of farmers across Andhra Pradesh.
Instead of providing relief, the government’s withdrawal of free crop insurance, coupled with recent rain-triggered crop losses, has left farmers devastated. With compensation still out of reach and investment support slashed, the new government’s approach has pushed cultivators into deeper distress.
Annadata sukhibhava
Chandrababu’s government did not implement the scheme at all in the first year, despite the clear election commitment. In the second year, the administration imposed severe cuts, excluding nearly seven lakh farmers from receiving investment support.
The stark contrast with the previous administration is hard to ignore. During Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, 53,58,366 farmers received Rs. 13,500 annually under the YSR Rythu Bharosa scheme, a total of Rs. 67,500 over five years. The state spent a massive Rs. 34,378.16 crore to ensure every eligible farmer received timely investment support.
Tenant farmers left
Under the earlier YSRCP government, investment support was extended even to tenant farmers, acknowledging their critical role in the agricultural sector. However, the current TDP-led coalition has chosen to exclude them from Annadata Sukhibhava, showing what many describe as a “closed fist” towards tenant cultivators.
As per Chandrababu’s own promise, 53,58,366 farmers should receive Rs. 20,000 per year, amounting to Rs. 40,000 over two years. That translates to a total of Rs. 21,433.46 crore that should have reached farmers by now.
The reality, however, is far removed from the promise. The government has released only Rs. 10,000 per farmer, ₹5,000 in each of two installments, covering 46,85,838 farmers. This amounts to just Rs. 4,685.53 crore, leaving an outstanding Rs. 16,746 crore that farmers were assured but never received.
Huge publicity for minimal support
Despite providing only a fraction of the promised assistance, the coalition government has launched a massive publicity campaign claiming that all farmers are being supported. The administration is also including the PM-Kisan funds, provided by the Union Government, and projecting them as part of its own investment support.
According to official claims, Rs. 6,310 crore has been released so far, but this figure includes central contributions. Meanwhile, several crucial farmer welfare schemes have been scrapped or left defunct.
Among the casualties are:
- Free crop insurance
- Zero-interest crop loans
- Price Stabilization Fund for ensuring MSP
- e-Crop system
- Input subsidy mechanisms
- Rythu Bharosa Kendras, which once supported farmers from sowing to procurement
By dismantling these safety nets, the government has dealt a severe blow to the agricultural ecosystem.
Agriculture struggles under Chandrababu’s rule
Farmers across the state are grappling with the absence of remunerative prices for key crops like paddy, chilli, mango, pulses, cocoa, tobacco, and cotton. Many are incurring heavy losses as market prices remain unstable and government intervention is minimal.
The supply of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides has been erratic and delayed. In several districts, farmers have had to wait in long queues at fertilizer shops due to acute shortages. The once-vibrant Rythu Bharosa Kendras, which provided comprehensive support to farmers at every stage, from sowing to crop procurement, have been rendered ineffective.
Adding to the crisis is the cancellation of free crop insurance, a lifeline introduced during the previous YSRCP regime. With no price stabilization mechanism now in place, farmers are at the mercy of fluctuating markets and unpredictable weather.
Govt that promised much, delivered little
The coalition government’s approach has left farmers feeling betrayed. From slashing promised benefits to removing critical welfare schemes, the administration has failed to honor its commitments.
For many, this feels like a repeat pattern, just as various sections of society have expressed feeling “cheated,” farmers, too, now find themselves victims of what they call a brutal breach of trust.
