Advance release of irrigation water to agricultural lands in the delta region of Andhra Pradesh The crop fields should remain green throughout the year, the three-crop system should be adopted, and the irrigation department should take steps to cultivate summer crops in five lakh acres in the delta regions next year.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu gave instructions to the irrigation officials at the Undavalli camp office on Tuesday
BY – RAJA PENTAPATI AP BUREAU CHIEF
National News
Amravati, June 10, (Bharat News)AP
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed agriculture officials to start the cropping season early to protect kharif crops from cyclones. As per these instructions, the agriculture department has already started releasing irrigation water in advance to Godavari and Krishna delta areas.
Officials briefed the Chief Minister on these developments at a review meeting held at the Undavalli camp office on Tuesday.
Water has already been released through canals to agricultural lands in West Godavari, Eluru, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada and Krishna districts. Plans have been made to supply irrigation water to Guntur, Bapatla and Prakasam districts in the first week of July. The officials noted that paddy, sorghum, groundnut and cotton are the main crops during the kharif season. Although the cultivation of groundnut and cotton has decreased, there has been an increase in sorghum and paddy cultivation has remained stable.
Andhra Pradesh has faced 14 cyclones in the last 20 years – five in October, six in November and three in December. The October cyclones particularly affected the north coastal region and East Godavari district.
The Chief Minister stressed that agricultural land should remain green throughout the year and directed officials to adopt a three-crop system. He directed that summer crops be cultivated on five lakh acres in the north coastal Andhra, Godavari and Krishna delta regions next year.
In districts like Anantapur, agriculture is done only for four months of the year, while the remaining eight months lie fallow, which depletes soil nutrients. Chief Minister Naidu stressed the need to utilize these eight months for additional crop cultivation. He directed officials to prepare farmers in 141 mandals where water resources are available for summer farming – 19 reservoirs, 57 tanks, 65 mandals dependent on groundwater.
He also suggested promoting good varieties of paddy that are in high demand.
To improve the income of paddy farmers, Chief Minister Naidu proposed to sow fruits and vegetables as intercrops on wide embankments of paddy fields.
He stressed on awareness among farmers about constructing wide embankments between plots and said that these can be constructed using NREGS funds if required. He also encouraged experimentation with aquaculture and horticulture crops on the margins or in between paddy fields.
Officials informed the CM that the procurement of HD Burley tobacco has started in Parchur AMC and farmers have expressed satisfaction. Cultivation of alternative crops in place of HD Burley is being encouraged. CM Naidu also enquired about the procurement of cocoa and mango.
They informed him that three new agriculture-related services have been launched on the WhatsApp Governance – Mana Mitra platform: Crop Insurance, Farm Mechanization and Markfed services. Farmers can now access these through WhatsApp. The Chief Minister also directed to increase awareness among farmers about best farming practices online and offline.
“We should reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides to preserve soil fertility. We should ensure that there is no shortage of fertilizers anywhere. Stay updated with real-time data on fertilizer and pesticide use. Last year, 39 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers were used in the state; this year, we should reduce it to 35 lakh metric tonnes. Cultivation of pulses and millet should be increased. Banks should disburse loans to farmers within 24 hours of their request this season, the Chief Minister said.
Bharat News Andhra Pradesh
