Woman farmer bags CRIDA Award

Tirupati: A woman farmer Sudharani from Chitticherla village in Chinnagottikallu mandal of Chittoor district bagged CRIDA's 'farm innovator award'. Sudharani was one of the farmers in the village adopted by RASS Krishi Vignana Kendra (KVK) for implementation of innovative farm practices under NICRA (National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture) to make agriculture viable for farmers in dryland areas like Chinnagottikallu mandal in Chittoor district.

Dr Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, presented the award to Sudharani at a function held on the occasion of Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) Foundation Day on Thursday in Hyderabad. CRIDA Director Ravindrachari and RASS-KVK in-charge and senior scientist Srinivasa Rao were present.

Srinivasa Rao said Sudharani for the last four years with support of RASS-KVK successfully following many innovative methods for protection of soil fertility and also water conservation including sprinkler system of micro irrigation for groundnut crop, drip irrigation for horticulture crop like vegetables and flower varieties.

To get additional income, she adopted 'backyard poultry' to grow Rajasri chicken and also growing alternate livestock feed 'Azolla' to provide nutrition green feed to livestock.