Centre’s organic farming push: Farmers in Telangana to receive fertiliser aid, market access
To reduce chemical use in farming, the Centre is promoting organic agriculture under a national scheme, offering training and Rs.4,000 yearly aid to selected farmers. Organic clusters will be formed and bio-resource centres established across districts for support.
Karimnagar: To curb the indiscriminate use of chemical inputs in agriculture, the Union government is encouraging farmers to adopt organic farming practices under the National Project on Organic Farming.
The initiative aims not only to promote chemical-free cultivation but also to extend multiple benefits to farmers. Accordingly, instructions have been issued to all States to implement the scheme.
Following these directions, officials from the district agriculture department have started identifying farmers interested in switching to organic farming. In addition to promoting organic cultivation, the initiative includes the establishment of marketing facilities, with dedicated stalls to be set up in each district.
The programme will be jointly implemented by the Central and State governments, with the Centre bearing 60 per cent of the cost and the State 40 per cent. Selected farmers will be trained in organic farming techniques, including preparation of Jeevamrutham (liquid organic fertiliser), Ghana Jeevamrutham (solid organic fertiliser), green manure, Agniastra (natural pesticide) and others.
Each cluster, comprising two or three villages, is expected to include around 125 farmers. Two community resource persons (CRPs) will be appointed per cluster to train and assist farmers in preparing and using organic fertilisers.
Members of local self-help groups will be selected as CRPs. These resource persons will offer field-level guidance and receive training from the Hyderabad-based NGO, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.
Under the scheme, each farmer will receive financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per year for two years to produce organic fertilisers. Those unable to prepare fertilisers on their own can procure them from bioresource centres to be set up across the district.