Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh chief secretary Dr K.S. Jawahar Reddy on Friday underlined that state government will establish a Natural Farming University to expand natural farming. He projected that percentage of natural farming in AP will increase to 60 by 2025–26.
Dr Jawahar Reddy presided over a review meeting with officials at the secretariat in Velagapudi on expansion of natural cultivation and establishing a university for its overall growth. He advised officials to create awareness among all farmers in Andhra Pradesh that they need to practise natural farming.
The CS advised officials to inform farmers about the benefits of natural farming already being carried out in several parts of the state during the past seven years. He underlined that the entire area of natural farming should be integrated and e-crafted.
He pointed out that if farmers follow natural farming system and reduce use of fertilisers and pesticides, they can get massive subsidies under the Prime Minister's Pranam Scheme. The scheme encourages farmers to reduce their dependence on fertilisers.
The chief secretary said with the help of central subsidies, NABARD, banks and donors, AP will establish a special Natural Farming University to promote farming with natural inputs found in nature.
State Farmers Empowerment Organisation executive vice-chairman T. Vijay Kumar gave a PowerPoint presentation on the expansion of natural irrigation in all villages of the state by 2025–26. He explained that at present 8.5 lakh farmers have registered for community managed natural farming in 3,730 villages, cultivating 3,77,000 hectares through natural farming, which protects the soil and environment.
Vijay Kumar said this has reduced water consumption and air pollution in the state for the past seven years, which is remarkable.
Special chief secretary (Agriculture and Animal Husbandry) Gopala Krishna Dwivedi, special chief secretary (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) B. Rajasekhar, Farmers' Empowerment Organisation CEO B. Rama Rao, secretary (Finance) N. Gulzar and SERP CEO Imtiaz participated in the meeting.
