Niranjan Reddy for organic farming in modern methods

Hyderabad: Emphasising the need for healthy food to boost one’s immunity and fight diseases like Covid-19, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy urged farmers in the State to take up organic farming.

Organic farming is not only cheaper but also remunerative for farmers considering the demand in the market, the Minister said, adding that it would improve the health of soil as well as people.

Participating in an interactive session with farmers on organic farming through T-SAT on Monday, the Minister pointed out people are not hesitating to pay higher prices for healthy food.

“Human beings are prone to immune deficiency due to lack of healthy food as well as clean air and sunlight. Majority of people living in urban areas are deprived of all three essentials while those in rural areas do not have access to food free of chemicals. We should remember that our ancestors lived a long and healthy life as they had access to all three essentials,” he added.

Niranjan Reddy advised farmers to increase usage of organic compost and silt removed from village tanks to improve the soil fertility. He opined that farmers should work with long-term vision rather than looking for temporary gains. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is working with a vision and formulating new agricultural policies for benefit of the farmers in the State, he said.

“The State government is providing all kinds of support to farmers through schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and free power supply among others. It is high time the farmers returned to organic farming using modern methods of cultivation,” he added.

He said the government is encouraging the preparation of vermicompost in gram panchayats under Palle Pragathi programme apart from exploring the possibilities of turning the waste from maize and other crops into compost fertilisers. He said efforts are on to turn nearly 6,600 tonnes of organic waste being produced by Hyderabad city into CT Compost. Organic fertilisers were supplied to about 16 lakh acres at subsidised prices last year.

TS Agros managing director Ramulu, along with agricultural scientists Dr Anitha and Dr Ramanjaneyulu, also participated in the programme.

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