Vijayawada: 10,641 Rythu Bharosa Kendras to extend helping hand to farmers

Vijayawada: Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) which would be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on May 30, are aimed at providing all farm-related services to the farmers, said H Arun Kumar, Commissioner of Agriculture Department.

Addressing the media here on Monday, the commissioner said that the RBKs, which would be housed in the Grama Sachivalayams, would have kiosks to provide services like information regarding crops to be undertaken by the farmers and distribution of quality seeds to the farmers.

In all 10,641 RBKs would be started all over the State which would be manned by agriculture graduates. The RBKs which would supply seeds for paddy and groundnut crops would provide information about various crops, market price of such crops and meteorology information, he said. The Chief Minister contemplates to transform the RBKs into crop purchasing centres in future, the commissioner said.

He said that the RBKs would also provide information relating to horticulture and fisheries also apart from agriculture. The soil testing would also be undertaken.Books useful for farmers would also be made available at RBKs, he said assuring that cows, buffaloes and oxen would be issued health cards.

Sekhar Babu, Director of AP Seeds, said that distribution of seeds would be undertaken at village-level. He said that 8 lakh quintals of seeds for the crops of paddy, groundnut and green gram would be readied. "Quality seeds on subsidy would be provided through RBKs," he said.

Srikesh Lakhar, Managing Director of AP Agros, said that fish seed, pesticides and fertilisers would be supplied through RBKs. He said that the Agros, which acts as nodal agency, got readied 65 godowns in all the 13 districts. He said that the farmers could hire the agriculture machinery through RBKs. Necessary training was being given to the staff to man the RBK kiosks, he said.