Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao review on Agriculture at Pragathi Bhavan

Honourable Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed officials concerned that farmers should be supplied with quality fertilisers and saw to it that spurious seeds or fertilisers are not allowed. He said a stringent Act should be made to send those indulging in the trade of spurious seeds and fertilisers to jail under the PD Act. He said an Ordinance in this regard would be promulgated shortly. The CM also wanted stringent measures against those adulterating food items and such persons should be severely punished. The CM instructed that support should be given to farmers to grow quality vegetables, fruits and food items and food processing also should be done by the farmers. He wanted the State government to stand by the farmers from getting the input expenditure to getting Minimum Support Price for their produce. The CM has requested Union Fertilisers and Chemicals Minister  Anantha Kumar to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers for the coming Kharif season during the Monsoon. The CM spoke to Anantha Kumar over phone.

          The CM held a review meeting here at Pragati Bhavan on Monday on the policy pertaining to giving input expenditure to the farmers, supply of seed, constitution of farmers associations, food processing and attaining self sufficiency in food production and other related issues. Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Chief Secretary SP Singh, Principal Secretaries  S Narsing Rao, Parthasarathy, MP K Keshav Rao, MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Agriculture University VC  Praveen Rao, Horticulture Corporation Commissioner  Venkatram Reddy and others participated.

          “Agriculture Extension Officers will have to tour villages from May 10 to June 10. They have to collect details of the lands. What kind of holding does each farmer has and what is cultivated in the land? Do they have water facility? What do they cultivate during the rainy season and during summer? Are they doing micro irrigation? Are they using machines and did they gone for the soil testing? If yes, what kind of soil they have in their lands? The officers should collect such data and information. Based on this data input expenditure is given to the farmers and all programme intended for them will be implemented based on this information and hence the information should be correct and accurate. The government will take stringent action if the information gathered is wrong or not factual. If the government has facts before it all the programmes can be implemented smoothly and effectively. Agriculture officers will visit each farmer and the farmers should give all the required information and cooperate,” the CM said.

          The CM has instructed the officials concerned to collect the required fertiliser for the monsoon during the summer itself and stock it. The officials informed the CM that 16 Lakh tonnes of fertiliser is needed during the rainy season and as on date 8 Lakh Tonnes are already available. Some portion of fertiliser is available locally. 2 Lakh Tonnes of Urea, Half a lakh Tonne of DPA, 2 Lakh Tonnes of NPK if stocked there will not be any problem during the rainy season. Responding to this, the CM called up  Anantha Kumar and asked him about the supply of fertiliser for the Kharif season. The Union minister has positively responded. Principal Secretary (Agriculture)

 Parthasarathy will go to Delhi on Tuesday and submit the proposals to the centre.

          “In Telangana we have become self sufficient as far as Paddy is concerned. We are still importing other pulses, fruits and vegetables. Hence we should know what is the need for our State, how much quantity of fruits and vegetables we require? Based on the demand we have to produce. Through this, the people’s needs are fulfilled. If farmers are able to export the quantity other than what is required in the State, they will get profits. The officers should advice farmers on what crop they should go in for? Find out which crop has the demand in the market and accordingly ask the farmers to produce,” the CM said.

          “Farmers Associations should be formed in the villages. Based on this, mandal, district and State level Federations should be formed. In future Farmers Associations will play a key role.  Farmers should be given proper training and Crop Colonies should be constituted. Encourage farmers in village to go in for different crops but not one crop. Take measures to ensure that the farmers who grow red Chill will also make red Chill powder by processing and similarly for the turmeric farmers, they should also make Turmeric powder,” the CM advised.

          The CM also said that the agriculture department should also change its structure based on the growing needs. They should employ the required staff. Job Cards should also be made to fix what job an employee is expected to do,” the CM instructed.