Tirupati: Deputy CM K Narayana Swamy bats for more income to farmers than mere support price

Tirupati: The Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy stated that the brain storming session on agriculture and allied sectors was aimed at getting valuable inputs for the government on how to get more income for the produce by the formers.

He initiated the discussion on the second day of "Mana palana – Mee Suchana" on completion of one year of YSRCP government's tenure, at SV University senate hall here on Tuesday. "Farmers should get more income rather than mere support price for the produce. Farmers, agriculture scientists and department officials have to give suggestions in that direction", he said.

District Collector Dr N Bharat Gupta stressed the importance of diversification of crops in view of the severe water shortage being faced by tomato and mango farmers. It has become perennial problem in the district. The advisory boards at district and mandal levels help farmers in taking a decision on which crop is to be cultivated based on the conditions.Chittoor MP N Reddeppa has observed that mango farmers are not getting good price and resorting to suicides with the burden of loans. He mentioned in Parliament on the need for setting up of tomato board and hoped that it will become a reality soon with the cooperation of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. MLC Y Sreenivasulu Reddy opined that Swaminathan committee recommendations have to be implemented in the state to benefit farmers. Joint Collector D Markandeyulu, Trainee Collector Vishnu Charan, Agriculture JD Vijay Kumar, APSPDCL CMD Harinath Rao and other officials participated. Several farmers and scientists have expressed their views on the subject.