More than 80% groundnut seed distributed: Collector

Anantapur: District Collector S Sathyanarayana has stated that more than 80 per cent of groundnut seed distribution has been completed and the remaining will be done in a week's time. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Sathyanarayana advised farmers to follow the suggestions of scientists and go for alternative climate-friendly crops like millets, maize and castor oil.

He opined that in view of volatile situation on the climate front and the unreliable monsoon playing truant with farmers, the farmers should go for climate-friendly crops including millets, pulses, maize and other cash crops so that with little investments the farmers can earn handsomely. Of the 3 lakh quintals of groundnut seed, the district's Agriculture department disbursed 2,52,996 quintals of groundnut seed.

The remaining quantum will be distributed within a week's time, he assured farmers. Already the Agriculture department had written to the Commissioner asking for supply of 37,248 quintals of millets and pulses etc. Groundnut distribution to the order of 81 per cent in Dharmavaram, Hindupur 76 per cent, Kadiri 94, Kalyandurgam 85, Madakasira 74, Guntakal 91, Penukonda 90, Raptadu 94, Rayadurgam 116 percent, Singanamala 85, Tadipatri 53 and Uravakonda 68 percent. Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA) Habeeb Basha said that 19 cases had been booked against black marketers and hoarders of groundnut seed.