Tirupati: Work on YSR agri labs progressing at good pace

Tirupati: Setting up of YSR integrated Agriculture Labs (YSR Labs) throughout the State has been progressing well with the Agricultural Department officials focussing their attention on the mission.

It was decided by the State government to establish 165 district and constituency wise integrated Agriculture Labs across the State. These labs are aimed at testing the quality of seed, pesticides, fertilisers, soil health and others.

These labs are expected to be helpful to the farmers and they are designed to ensure supply of quality inputs to the farmers in time. The primary labs will be established in Assembly constituencies for which 600 square yards space is required. Once completed, these labs will conduct laboratory tests like soil, seed, fertiliser and pesticides to ensure quality production. In Chittoor district these labs will be established in 13 constituencies, except in Tirupati since it is the urban constituency.

Joint Director of Agriculture N Vijaya Kumar told The Hans India that the government had sanctioned Rs 11.10 crore to set up integrated Agri labs which have to be completed by April next. Police housing corporation was entrusted with the work of establishing the labs.

Chittoor district will have a district level lab with advanced machinery and regional level testing laboratory will come up at Chandragiri for which identification of land was already completed. For each constituency lab Rs 55 lakhs will be spent, and for district lab Rs 3.75 crore was earmarked.

With these labs, farmers can directly bring their seed, fertilisers or pesticides for testing the quality. Till now, agriculture department officials used to collect samples from traders for being sent to outside which involves time and money. This cumbersome process will go up once integrated agri labs are ready as the farmers can test the quality before using them in their fields which will avoid unnecessary losses to them at a later stage said an official.

It was learnt that the government wants to enter into MoUs with seed developing companies, pesticides and fertiliser manufacturing companies which will ensure quality in the products. Spurious seeds and quality less pesticides will not be allowed to sell in the market and farmers can test them at the labs before using them. The staff will have to undergo training before they were drafted for work in the integrated agri labs, said the official.