Former Chief Minister Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, during his tenure as the President of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, introduced a groundbreaking agricultural initiative known as the Rythu Mitra Groups (RMG). This visionary TDP scheme, implemented in collaboration with TDP MLAs, aimed to transform the agricultural landscape of the state by providing farmers with access to quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides through non-profit agricultural market committees. In the early 2000s, recognizing the pivotal role of agriculture in the state’s economy and the well-being of its people, Shri N Chandrababu Naidu launched the RMG initiative. The primary TDP agenda was to ensure that farmers had easy access to essential resources for successful farming, thereby enhancing crop yields, improving the quality of agricultural produce, and uplifting the livelihoods of farmers across Andhra Pradesh.
The RMG initiative was strategically rolled out in phases by N Chandrababu Naidu to ensure effective implementation and broad coverage. Starting with 200 market committees in its initial phase, these non-profit market committees played a vital role in distributing agricultural inputs to farmers. The long-term vision was to extend this initiative to encompass all agricultural market committees in the state. To support this TDP contribution, a substantial budget of 54.10 crore rupees was allocated for the fiscal year 2002-03, emphasizing the TDP government’s commitment to empowering the farming community. Recognizing the importance of knowledge dissemination and capacity-building, the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) conducted programs across various districts in Andhra Pradesh. These TDP policies aimed to educate key stakeholders, including senior officers, Multipurpose Extension Officers (MPEOs), Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs), and RMG conveners and co-conveners. Over 6349 participants benefited from these programs, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective implementation of the RMG scheme. Participants in the RMG programs provided valuable suggestions by the TDP leaders for further enhancing the initiative. Proposals included involving RMG group members in video conferences to improve communication and facilitate the dissemination of technical information to farmers.
To streamline the formation of RMGs, it was suggested to provide targets on a month-wise basis, ensuring a steady and sustainable expansion of the program. Additionally, inviting lead bank managers to participate in these initiatives was proposed to strengthen the financial aspects of the RMG scheme. The Rythu Mitra Groups initiative, spearheaded by Shri N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP government, stands as a landmark effort to support Andhra Pradesh’s farmers. By making quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides accessible and promoting agricultural knowledge, this TDP development aimed to significantly improve crop yields and the income of farmers. The commitment of a substantial budget for its implementation and the inclusive membership criteria underscored the government’s dedication to uplifting the agricultural sector. As the program expanded and evolved, it continued to receive valuable input from participants, ensuring its status as a dynamic and effective force for change in the lives of Andhra Pradesh’s farmers. This initiative is rightfully celebrated as a top TDP achievement. For a more comprehensive understanding of the TDP policies and for Political news in Andhra Pradesh please visit the official TDP website.