Niranjan Reddy asks farmers to avoid excess use of chemicals, fertilisers

Agriculture Minister S Niranajan Reddy suggested that the farmers should increase usage of organic manure and compost to increase the fertility of their farm lands.

Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister S Niranajan Reddy on Tuesday emphasised the need to provide chemical-free food to the future generations and advised the farmers in the State to reduce their dependence on chemicals and fertilisers. He suggested that the farmers should increase usage of organic manure and compost to increase the fertility of their farm lands.

Participating in a virtual interaction with the farmers on the upcoming Vaanakalam (Kharif) season preparations through T-SAT here, the Minister pointed that majority of the nation’s population was dependent on agriculture for livelihood. He stated that Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao observed the importance of agriculture in the State and recognised it as a priority sector, besides creating all resources for its progress in the State.

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“Under these circumstances, it is important for the farmers to give up degenerative practices including excess usage of chemicals and fertilisers in the farm lands. They should focus on organic farming. It is equally important for the farmers to produce quality food and also protect the soil health,” he added. He advised farmers against burning the fields of paddy and red gram after harvesting.

Niranjan Reddy explained that the Chief Minister’s vision was to provide quality food products to future generations by promoting organic farming. He stated that people were suffering from diseases due to lack of nutrients in their diet and they can get high nutrients only through quality and chemical- free food. He advised the unemployed youth should observe the increasing usage of farm mechanisation and create employment for themselves by using drones and other farm mechanisation methods.

The Minister asked farmers to cultivate crops which have demand in the market. He said the State government has been purchasing some crops over the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it was not possible to possible these crops every year. “Farmers must cultivate crops like cotton, red gram, oil seeds, oil palm and vegetables as well as other horticultural crops which have demand in the market, to increase their income levels,” he said. He wanted the farmers to use chemicals and fertilisers strictly on the advise of agricultural scientist and officials during cultivation of cotton crop.

Niranjan Reddy explained that the State government allocated a total of Rs 22,000 crore directly for the agriculture sector, including Rs 14,800 crore for Rythu Bandhu, Rs 1,200 crore for Rythu Bima, Rs 5,225 crore for crop loan waiver, Rs 1,500 crore for farm mechanisation and seed subsidy. “If construction of irrigation projects and free power supply are also taken into consideration, about Rs 60,000 crore are being spent only on agriculture sector this year. Considering the priority being given to the agriculture sector, Telangana climbed to the top position in agriculture production in the nation within seven years since the State formation.

Rythu Bandhu Samithi chairman and MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Principal Secretary for Agriculture B Janardhan Reddy, Director of Agricultural Research Dr Jagadeeshwar and other officials also attended the virtual meeting.

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