Latest news with #PolamPilustondi
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Farmers advised to explore horticulture
Vijayawada: NTR district collector G Lakshmisha has assured the farming community that the district administration stands firmly behind them in all aspects of agricultural development. He said the welfare of farmers remains the government's foremost priority and extends all kinds of support and assistance. Participating in the 'Polam Pilustondi' initiative organised at Guntupalli village in Ibrahimpatnam mandal on Tuesday, Dr Lakshmisha planted paddy in the field of farmer G Ravindranath Tagore. Dr Lakshmisha highlighted that every village faces unique challenges. To address these, the district administration is organising 'Polam Pilustondi' programmes every Tuesday and Wednesday to engage directly with farmers, understand their problems, and implement timely solutions. He outlined the support being provided under this initiative, which includes assistance with supply of seeds, fertilisers, CCRC cards, and crop loans. He said fertilisers are being distributed through a biometric-based online system, and he reassured farmers that there is no shortage of fertilisers in the district. Encouraging diversification of crops, Dr Lakshmisha advised farmers to explore horticulture along with paddy cultivation. Through the Employment Guarantee Scheme, farmers can establish fruit and flower gardens free of cost and potentially earn two to three times more income. He shared that the district has set a target of cultivating horticulture crops in 4,000 acres this year, with 3,800 acres already under cultivation. Crops like drumsticks can also be grown along bunds for additional income. District Agriculture Officer DMF Vijayakumari, AD Srinivasa Rao, Tech AO Vasudev Nayak, Mandal Agriculture Officer Y Rajani, PACS President Ramakrishna, progressive local farmers, and officials from various departments attended the programme.
Hans India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Focus on reducing chemical fertilisers by 11%
Vijayawada: The Department of Agriculture has launched an ambitious campaign to reduce the state's reliance on chemical fertilisers by 11 per cent. This initiative, directly mandated by the Chief Minister, aims at promoting organic farming practices and alternative nutrient management strategies among farmers. Director of Agriculture Dilli Rao unveiled awareness posters and wall charts at the Directorate of Agriculture here on Thursday, marking the official launch of the campaign. Speaking at the event, Rao highlighted the current annual consumption of chemical fertilisers in the state, which stands at a substantial 36.5 lakh metric tonnes. The Chief Minister has directed a reduction of 4 lakh metric tonnes, bringing the target consumption down to 32.5 lakh metric tonnes. To achieve this goal, the Department of Agriculture has formulated a comprehensive action plan under the theme 'Back to the Roots,' focusing on partially replacing chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives. Director Dilli Rao emphasised the detrimental effects of the indiscriminate use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, particularly urea in crops like paddy and maize. To ensure widespread awareness and adoption, the department is intensifying its outreach efforts through wall charts, pamphlets, posters and mass outreach programmes under the 'Polam Pilustondi' initiative. With the Kharif season already underway, the Director urged all field-level agricultural officers to actively engage with farmers and diligently promote the 11 percent reduction target in chemical fertilizer usage. Additional Director VV Vijayalakshmi, ATMA Director Prasad, Joint Director (Fertilizers) Krupadas, Deputy Director G Venkateswara Rao, DD Planning Swarna Vijaya, and other departmental personnel were present.
