Scientific Farming Key to Profitable Agriculture: Dattatreya
Leaders urge unity, innovation and allied sectors to revive rural agriculture
Karimnagar: The Kisan Gramina Mela was inaugurated with much fanfare by former Governor and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya at Ambedkar Stadium in Karimnagar on Wednesday. The event opened with a traditional welcome featuring folk drum performances and cultural music. After inaugurating the fair, Dattatreya visited various stalls displaying agricultural machinery, high-yield seed varieties, dairy products and organic produce.
Addressing the gathering, Dattatreya said farmers must organise themselves to gain stronger bargaining power in the market. He noted that unity would enable farmers to sell their produce more effectively and secure better prices. He also stressed the importance of soil testing for the balanced use of fertilisers, which is crucial for improving crop productivity. Farmers, he said, should adopt new innovations and high-yielding varieties to maximise profits. Rural self-reliance, he added, is vital for strengthening the national economy and curbing migration from villages to cities.
Polasani Sugunakar Rao, president of Kisan Jagarana and organiser of the fair, said the primary objective of the Kisan Gramina Mela, earlier held in 2022 and 2023, is to familiarise farmers with new technologies and scientific farming methods to make agriculture a profitable occupation once again.
He expressed concern over the declining socio-economic conditions in rural areas, observing that despite overall development, benefits are not adequately reaching villages. As a result, rural youth are losing interest in agriculture and traditional occupations and are migrating to urban areas for low-paying jobs, he said.
Former MLA Dr Rajeshwar Rao and G. Ramakrishan Reddy lauded the fair for its role in bringing positive change to rural lives. Karimnagar Dairy chairman Rajeshwar Rao highlighted the growth of the dairy sector, stating that the Karimnagar Dairy has expanded from 12,000 members to over one lakh members. He emphasised the need to promote allied sectors such as dairy, sheep rearing and fisheries, in addition to crop cultivation, to ensure sustainable incomes for rural families.
The event witnessed a large turnout, including leaders of Farmer Producer Organisations, PACS presidents and agricultural experts. Several stalls showcased the latest agricultural technologies, offering a hands-on learning experience for thousands of farmers who attended the mela.
