Latest news with #SDilliRao
New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Reduce chemical fertiliser use and opt for organic alternatives: Agri Director S Dilli Rao
VIJAYAWADA: Director of Agriculture S Dilli Rao on Thursday urged farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 20–25% and adopt organic alternatives to safeguard soil health and ensure sustainable agriculture. Speaking at the Annadata Sukhibhava fund release programme in Darshi mandal, Prakasam district, he warned that overuse of fertilisers has led to increased pest attacks and crop diseases. He advised farmers to incorporate organic manures, green manure, bio-fertilisers, and nano-fertilisers to restore soil balance and improve resilience. He said the state government has extended substantial support to the farming sector by absorbing approximately Rs 12,500 crore in fertiliser subsidies. Farmers receive an 88% subsidy on urea and a 50.72% subsidy on (Diammonium Phosphate) DAP. The government detailed the subsidized pricing for farmers: Urea (45 kg bag): Original cost Rs 2,234; Subsidy Rs 1,967 (88%); MRP Rs 266.50; DAP (50 kg bag): Original cost Rs 2,740; Subsidy Rs 1,390 (50.72%); MRP Rs 1,350. Dilli Rao noted that India continues to rely heavily on imported raw materials such as phosphorus and potash due to limited domestic availability, making the sector vulnerable to global challenges including volatile currency exchange rates and geopolitical tensions in Western nations. He said despite rising foreign exchange expenditure, the government remains committed to ensuring fertiliser supply through budgetary allocations. He urged farmers to follow the recommended dosages and integrate sustainable practices to protect the soil, increase productivity, and contribute to national food security and economic stability. Dilli Rao reiterated that responsible fertiliser use is not only crucial for individual farm success but also essential for the long-term health of the nation's agriculture.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
99.98% of Andhra farmers get Annadata-PM Kisan aid on first day of launch
VIJAYAWADA: The Annadata Sukhibhava–PM-Kisan scheme, launched by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday at Veerayapalem village in Darsi mandal of Prakasam district, achieved a 99.98% success rate in disbursing financial assistance to 44.75 lakh eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), according to data from the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS). Director of Agriculture S Dilli Rao said that only 1,067 accounts failed to receive funds. The Chief Minister's Office lauded the Agriculture Department for collecting high-quality farmer data within a short timeframe. Around 1 lakh farmers were excluded due to the Model Code of Conduct being in effect in certain areas, as per State Election Commission guidelines. Another 1 lakh accounts were withheld due to being inactive or having unmapped NPCI linkages. A grievance module will be activated from August 3 to allow rejected beneficiaries to raise concerns. Dilli Rao thanked farmers, public representatives, collectors, and officials for their cooperation.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AP launches statewide farm machinery survey
Vijayawada: In a major step toward complete mechanisation of agriculture, the Andhra Pradesh govt is set to launch a state-level Farm Machinery Inventory Survey (FMIS) across all villages. The objective is to collect granular data on agricultural machinery owned by farmers, cooperatives, and private providers to streamline support and develop targeted plans for equipment supply. The survey will be conducted at the grassroots level by agricultural assistants at Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs) and is scheduled to be completed by Aug 31. Officials said it will cover farm equipment acquired both through subsidies and private investments, taking stock of ownership, usage patterns, condition, and technical specifications like make, model, and year of manufacture. Speaking to the media, director of agriculture S Dilli Rao explained, "This isn't a routine machinery count. We aim to assess equipment availability based on crop type, season, and village-specific needs. The insights will help create targeted budgets and ensure effective deployment of tools where they are needed most." The collected data will be integrated into the APAIMS 2.0 Farm Management Information System, a digital platform developed by Vassar Labs, enabling the govt to monitor availability, plan budgets and strengthen farm mechanisation programmes with better accuracy. The initiative is expected to serve multiple functions: identifying gaps in existing machinery, supporting Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), guiding redistribution of underutilised equipment and strengthening policy decisions on equipment subsidies. It will also align with national schemes like SMAM and PM-KISAN. Officials said the govt is also looking at expanding services such as real-time CHC bookings, payment tracking and introducing AI-powered crop advisory systems based on the FMIS data. There are also plans to scale up drone-based spraying solutions. District agricultural officers have been directed to ensure timely and accurate survey completion with the help of RSK staff. Streamlining support Statewide survey to map all farm machinery by Aug 31 Inputs to power AI advisory systems and CHC booking platforms Helps identify idle machinery for redistribution Digital planning via APAIMS 2.0 developed by Vassar Labs
Hans India
28-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
State-level farm machinery inventory survey soon
Vijayawada: Director of agriculture S Dilli Rao announced on Sunday that the village farm machinery inventory survey will be launched shortly across the state, with a target completion date of August 31. This comprehensive survey, to be carried out by agricultural assistants at Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs), will cover machinery held by individual farmers, institutions, FPOs, PACS, and private service providers, regardless of whether it was acquired through subsidies or personal funds. Speaking to the media, Dilli Rao explained that the survey aims to assess machinery availability based on crop area and season, and identify gaps at the village level. This approach will help develop village-specific, need-based budget plans and ensure a targeted supply of equipment. The survey will collect data on the ownership, usage, model, manufactured date, and condition of machinery, which will then be fed into the Farm Management Information System (FMIS) in the APAIMS 2.0 version developed by Vassar Labs. This digital integration is expected to enhance planning, monitoring, and budget allocation for farm mechanisation. Dilli Rao further explained the key objectives of the survey, which include creating a digital inventory of machinery at individual, institutional, and RBK levels, assessing the availability versus requirement of equipment by crop season and agro-climatic zone, providing data-driven support for Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), identifying idle or underutilised equipment for redistribution or shared use, and supporting policy formulation on farm machinery subsidies and deployment. He described the initiative as a strategic digital move that lays the foundation for future-ready, technology-driven agriculture. Dilli Rao called it a vital step toward equitable access to modern tools, efficient resource use, and inclusive mechanization, particularly for small and marginal farmers. District agricultural officers have been instructed to take personal responsibility to ensure the survey is completed through RSK assistants by the August 31 deadline.
New Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
AP to launch statewide survey of farm machinery for digital upgrade
VIJAYAWADA: The Department of Agriculture, under the directives of the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, is set to launch a comprehensive village-level survey of agricultural machinery across the State. The survey, to be completed by August 31, aims to assess the availability and utilisation of farming equipment to support tailored budget planning and resource allocation. It will be conducted by agricultural assistants at Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs) and will cover machinery owned by individual farmers, institutions, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), and private entities, regardless of whether the equipment was purchased with subsidies or independently. Speaking to the mediapersons, Agriculture Department Director S Dilli Rao said, 'This survey will evaluate the availability of agricultural machinery at the village level, based on crop patterns and seasonal requirements. Moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach, it will enable us to design budget plans aligned with specific village needs.' Key data points, including ownership, usage, and the condition of machinery, will be collected and integrated into the Farm Machinery Information System (FMIS) under the APAIMS 2.0 platform, developed by Wasserlabs. This digital integration will enhance planning, monitoring, and budget allocation processes. Key objectives of the survey include creating a digital inventory of machinery at individual, institutional, and RSK levels; identifying equipment needs based on crop seasons and agro-climatic conditions; linking data with Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) for better utilisation; identifying idle machinery for redistribution; supporting policies like subsidised machinery distribution; integrating with central schemes such as SMAM and PM-Kisan; and collecting data on machinery used for land prep, water management, spraying, harvesting, and post-harvest activities. The Director emphasised that the survey aligns with the Chief Minister's vision to integrate data with the e-CHC platform, enabling farmers to book machinery through a user-friendly, Uber-like system. The future Plans include integrating FMIS survey data with AI-based crop advisory systems, establishing real-time booking and payment tracking for CHC services, and promoting the expansion of drone-based spraying equipment. Describing the initiative as a 'futuristic digital agricultural plan,' Dilli Rao highlighted its role in optimising resource use and improving access to modern machinery for farmers.
