Naidu Calls For Satellite Survey To Find Out Details Of Crops And Lands

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for a satellite survey to find out details of crops being raised in the lands along with their survey numbers across the state.

Naidu held a review meeting with agriculture minister K Atchannaidu and senior officials here on Tuesday.

Naidu said a satellite survey carried out as a pilot project at Biccavole village of Bhalabadrapuram mandal in East Godavari recently helped in getting comprehensive information on the crops and the lands with their survey numbers.

The information acquired through the satellite survey should be compared with the information collected at the field level. There is a need to advise and support the farmers on a regular basis on issues of raising similar varieties of crops in a particular area and others through Rythu Seva Kendram,” he said.

Naidu called for updation of agriculture records through a land resurvey and streamlining of the revenue records.

The Chief Minister discussed usage of AI Chat Bot to help the farmers plan for raising crops and to provide value addition to them. Officials must extend all requisite information to the farmers through Artificial Intelligence.

The officials said, so far, e-KYC was completed with details of 47,41,792 farmers under Annadata Sukhibhava scheme. Officials would now identify the farmers through e-Patna to help each of them avail the financial benefit under the scheme.

Promising that he would accord top priority for the farm sector, the CM said he would hold talks in virtual mode with representatives of the water user associations.

Naidu was informed about the normal rainfall and that the main projects in Krishna, Godavari and Vamsadhara basins were filled with water to the brim. Officials said the area under cultivation expanded with the Kharif crops being raised in 9.90 lakh hectares.

The Chief Minister suggested advancing the crop season of rain-fed crops so that the farmers would not suffer in the event of natural calamities like cyclic storms and floods. If they could do so, it also would help the farmers raise one more crop.

Naidu felt the need to rope in the ministers, MLAs and officials to create awareness on this among the farmers. He called for proper planning to utilise the rainwater to the full extent and optimise use of water from the projects so that they would not face any drought.

The CM called for regulation on usage of fertilisers and pesticides and encouragement to natural farming. The officials said, so far, 36.71 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers were used. It was 12 per cent less compared to last year. Similarly, 1,733 metric tonnes of pesticides were used so far in the 2024-25 fiscal across the state.

Naidu called for bringing in an integrated pest management system to protect crops from pests and felt the need to keep track of the sale of seeds and fertilizers.

Officials informed the CM that there were dangerous levels of usage of chemicals to remove weeds in the paddy crop and that the number of cancer cases was rising among those consuming such rice.

Naidu advised the officials to bring about awareness among the farmers and prompt them to give up such a practice, especially in places where cancer cases were rising.

The CM gave his permission to sign a pact with TATA for the issue of certification for organic products. This would help raise the demand for such products and explore more export potential for agriculture products to countries like Japan and Taiwan.

He suggested that the officials make efforts for export of fruits to 130 countries by getting the INDICAPS certification (Indian Intensive Care Case Mix and Practice Patterns Study) besides finding export potential for agriculture and horticulture produce with value addition.

Naidu said there must be regular crop health monitoring in the state by taking 42 standards. The canals must be desilted for free flow of water to the crops, he said, and underlined the need on the part of both agriculture and water resources departments to work in coordination. He also felt the need for extensive use of drones in farming.

The CM directed the district collectors, who joined the review meet in virtual mode, not to use agriculture officers for non-agriculture works. He asked them to pay money to the Totapuri mango farmers for procurement of mangoes by Aug. 15.

Naidu called for efforts to take agriculture products to the doorsteps of the people especially in urban areas. Officials must provide the opportunity for their sale, especially near multi-storied apartments and housing clusters, so that it would help avoid a rise in their prices.

He said officials must set up mobile Rytu bazaars in all assembly segments and at important places across the state. There must be an action plan on this in 30 days.

Naidu said officials must encourage farmers to raise commercial crops as they would give them good earnings. Officials must initiate stern action against those who use chicken feed for aquaculture, he said, and added that the aqua products should be of international standards.