Encourage ZBNF, Collector tells officials

 Kakinada: District Collector Kartikeya Mishra ordered the officials to encourage farmers to get higher yields and income with less investment through the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme.He chaired the governing body meeting of ATMA at court hall in the Collectorate here on Wednesday evening.

The governing body approved the yearly plans of ATMA to encourage the adoption of modern technology in agriculture and its allied sectors at a cost of Rs 4.13 crore for the year 2018-19.

Speaking on this occasion, Mishra ordered the officials that they should extensively propagate the zero budget natural farming methods (ZBNF) in the farming community. He suggested the officials that they should give the seeds, pesticides and nutrients on subsidised prices to the farmers who gets training from the ATMA.

He also ordered the officials to encourage the ZBNF progressive fields in every mandal at least in 1000 acres. Mishra also directed the officials to train the farmers in rearing sheep, goats and other milch cattle. He asked them to offer subsidies to the trained farmers under animal husbandry and fisheries departments.

Joint Collector-2 Radha Krishna Murthy, ATMA Director Padmaja, Animal Husbandry Joint Director Sivaji, Micro Irrigation Project Director Ram Mohan and others participated.