Farmer’s Empowerment Organisation (Rythu Sadhikara Samstha) (RySS)

ABOUT RYSS Vide G.O.Ms No. 197 Finance (R&E) Department dated 04 October 2014 issued by State of Andhra Pradesh, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha has been established as a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 to create integrated institutional mechanism for all programmes, schemes and activities intended for farmer’s empowerment, encompassing welfare, development, capacity enhancement, credit flow, financial support and allied empowerment activities. Rythu Sadhikara Samstha in English can be read as Farmer’s Empowerment Organisation. Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Guntur/Vijayawada is a Section 8 Company set up by Government of AP, specifically mandated to implement the natural farming programme covering 500000 farmers across all 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh during the period 2017-22 with scaling-up to reach all 55-60 lakh farmers by 2024. The objectives are to promote climate resilient, chemical free, ecological agriculture across all agro climatic zones; and to provide small and marginal farmers with profitable livelihoods from agriculture. Taken up under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Paramparagath Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and State plan with an outlay of Rs. 750 crore over a period of 5 years, RySS has also partnered with Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives for setting up of its Technical Support Unit. At this critical juncture when a lot of uncertainties regarding climate change exist, zero budget natural farming can help in meeting many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP), Department of Agriculture (DoA) is  implementing Zero-Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) Programme, through the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS), a not-for-profit organization established by GoAP. The programme has been initiated in 2015 -16 with multiple objectives of enhancing farmers’ welfare, consumer welfare and for conservation of environment. ZBNF is a holistic alternative to the present paradigm of high cost chemical inputs-based agriculture and to address the negative and uncertain impacts of climate change. Z.B.N.F principles are in sync with the principles of Agro ecology, a world wide  movement.  Its greatest strength is that it is based on the latest scientific discoveries in Agriculture, and, at the same time it is rooted in Indian tradition. The F.A.O has as recently as April, 2018 urged all countries to move towards the adoption of Agro ecology to meet the twin goals of global food security and conservation of the environment.