Uncertainty continues over the release of Rythu Bharosa investment support to farmers as the satellite image mapping process, made mandatory by the government, remains incomplete. While there is widespread campaigning that funds will be credited to farmers’ accounts by Sankranti, the government has not issued any official clarity so far.

The state government has decided to provide Rythu Bharosa only for cultivated land, following criticism that funds were being released even for non-cultivable and idle lands. To ensure this, officials were directed to complete satellite image mapping of cultivated areas and verify ground-level data before releasing funds. However, no deadline has been fixed for completing the satellite survey. Officials say only about 50 per cent of the mapping has been completed so far, with no clear timeline for the remaining work.

At the same time, the rabi season is well underway in Telangana. Paddy transplantation is almost complete, especially under irrigation projects. Farmers have also taken up maize, jowar and chilli cultivation. Every year, the government provides Rs 12,000 per acre as investment support. To stop payments to uncultivated lands, agriculture extension officers (AEOs) have been instructed to visit fields, verify cultivation based on pattadar passbooks and upload crop details survey number-wise on the crop booking portal.

Officials estimate that around 50 lakh acres will be cultivated during the current rabi season. Across the state, about 2,600 AEOs are working, each covering three to four villages. On average, one AEO is expected to upload crop details for nearly 5,000 acres, The government is also reviewing past data, including last rabi and kharif cultivation figures and Rythu Bharosa payments, to assess how many farmers and acres will be eligible this season and how much funding will be required at Rs 6,000 per acre per installment. Telangana has over 1.25 crore acres listed as agricultural land, including hills, rocky terrain, fallow lands. Officials estimate that nearly 5 lakh acres of non-cultivable land also received funds. To prevent a repeat, the government has entrusted Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University with satellite image-based verification. However, there is still no clarity on when this exercise will be completed.

In the kharif season, the government disbursed Rs 8,744 crore to 69.40 lakh farmers under Rythu Bharosa. Cotton was cultivated on about 50 lakh acres during kharif, but as it is a rain-fed crop, it is not grown in rabi. Chilli cultivation is also relatively low in this season. Farmers are keenly watching whether Rythu Bharosa will be released based on previous season data or only for crops cultivated in the ongoing rabi season. With no official announcement yet, suspense continues over when and how Rythu Bharosa will finally reach farmers.