Andhra Pradesh: CM vows to support tobacco and horticulture farmers
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday held a review meeting at his Undavalli camp office to address procurement and pricing concerns for cocoa, mango, and tobacco crops, reaffirming his government's commitment to supporting farmers.
Naidu stressed a farmer-centric approach, directing officials to conduct field visits, anticipate challenges, and ensure global standards in agricultural production. He announced a dedicated cocoa policy to promote high-quality output and enhance farmer awareness. Support for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and MSMEs to strengthen agro-processing was also emphasised.
Regarding tobacco, Naidu said the Tobacco Board will regulate Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) acreage, while White Burley tobacco will be cultivated under contract, with procurement handled by companies. To address issues in HD Burley cultivation, he urged officials to promote crop diversification toward pulses and millets. Seven market yards in Parchuru, Inkollu, Marturu, Pedanandipadu, Prattipadu, Chilakaluripeta, and Maddipadu are ready for procurement, targeting 25 million kg to be procured by ITC and GPI.
The mango sector is grappling with 43,000 metric tonnes of unsold pulp, as companies like Parle Agro, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo have reduced demand. Naidu appealed to traders to purchase mangoes at `12 per kg, with the government providing `4 compensation if they pay only `8. He mandated registration of farmers, traders, and processors for better coordination. For cocoa, 465 metric tonnes have been procured, with 745 tonnes still available. To ensure a minimum support price of `500 per kg, the government will offer a `50 subsidy above the `450 offered by companies.
He directed the expansion of Rythu Bazaars from 116 to 200, the use of mobile markets, and the development of a farmer database linked to PM Kisan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh and Nvidia sign MoU to advance growth of AI ecosystem
Andhra Pradesh has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with American Technology company, Nvidia Corp to advance growth of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem in the state, said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on part of the MoU signed between both the sides, the tech giant will privide support to the state in preparing curriculum and training over next two years. In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said, "Andhra Pradesh is welcoming bold initiatives to lead India's AI revolution. Under the leadership of Hon'ble IT Minister @naralokesh Garu, we have entered into an MoU with @nvidia to build a strong and inclusive AI ecosystem in the state." "With support from NVIDIA for curriculum and training, 10,000 engineering students will receive skill training over the next two years, while 500 AI startups from AP will gain access to its Inception Program for global exposure and key resources," CM added. CM Naidu further added that plans are underway to establish India's first AI University in collaboration with NVIDIA to shape the infrastructure and research capabilities. "From education and skilling to research and innovation, this initiative is laying the foundation for a Swarna Andhra Pradesh," he added. Andhra Pradesh is actively working towards developing the state's AI ecosystem. The state government has announced the development of India's first Quantum Computing Village. The 50-acre facility in Amaravati, which the state government previously announced, is envisioned as a pioneering ecosystem for quantum computing research and collaboration. The facility is envisioned as a collaborative ecosystem where institutions and companies can access and share advanced quantum computing resources. It will also include a dedicated on-site data centre to support high-performance computing needs. IBM and TCS will jointly finalise the infrastructure specifications, with the initial setup set to host the IBM Quantum System Two.
New Indian Express
10 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Our farmers have gone from facing debt and uncertainty to enjoying dignity: PM Modi
Through a series of posts, Modi emphasised the transformative impact of his government's farmer-centric policies over the past decade, describing it as an era of dignity and prosperity for agriculture. He stressed that continuous hikes in MSP have ensured fair compensation while boosting incomes. Official communications framed this mission as "empowering Annadatas" and "strengthening India's backbone." "From facing debt and uncertainty, our farmers now enjoy dignity through direct income support, better prices, modern infrastructure, and global market access," the government stated, adding that agriculture has grown substantially, with farmers becoming key partners in India's development. Under Modi's "visionary leadership," no farmer is left behind. Notable achievements include: Establishment of 43,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), integration of 15,000 Mandis on the e-NAM portal, digital enrollment of nearly 2 crore farmers and 2.6 lakh traders, Rs 3.79 lakh crore in recorded agri-trade over 11 years, MSP allocations growing from Rs 7.41 lakh crore to Rs 23.61 lakh crore, and agricultural support increasing nearly threefold from Rs 8.5 lakh crore to Rs 25.49 lakh crore. Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended these efforts, "Today, our farmers are empowered contributors to nation-building with self-respect." BJP President JP Nadda added that PM Modi's leadership has prioritised farmers through schemes like PM-Kisan and PM Fasal Bima Yojana, ensuring they receive deserved dignity and support.
Mint
11 hours ago
- Mint
Nvidia signs pact with Andhra Pradesh govt to foster India's AI ecosystem; Over 500 startups to gain R&D benefit
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said the state is taking bold initiatives to lead India's Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, referring to the state government's pact with tech giant Nvidia. On Friday, the southern state and Nvidia inked an agreement to jointly advance the establishment of a proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) university in the state and foster a robust ecosystem through skilling, research, infrastructure development, and startup acceleration. "Under the leadership of IT Minister Nara Lokesh, we have entered into an MoU with Nvidia to build a strong and inclusive AI ecosystem in the state," said Naidu in a post on 'X'. With support from Nvidia for curriculum and training, 10,000 engineering students will receive skill training over the next two years, he said, adding that 500 AI startups from the southern state will gain access to Nvidia's 'Inception Program' for global exposure and key resources. Further, plans are underway to establish India's first AI University in collaboration with Nvidia for shaping the infrastructure and research capabilities, said the CM. From education and skilling to research and innovation, this initiative is laying the foundation for a Swarna Andhra Pradesh, Naidu added.
