Horticulture crop area to be raised to 12,000 hectares

Kurnool: District Collector S Satyanarayana has said that steps are being taken to increase the extent of horticulture crops in the district. 

The Collector, along with Joint Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh, addressed a press conference here on Saturday on the issues discussed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during collectors’ meet in Amaravati. The Collector has said that horticulture crops are grown in 10,000 hectares in the district and it is planned to increase the area to 12,000 hectares. 

High yields can be obtained with less water by using sprinklers and drip irrigation system. The farmers would be encouraged to rear goats and poultries by extending financial assistance under various schemes, he stated. 

He further says that around 15,000 borewells are pending to be given electricity connection and the government is planning to solve the issue. RO plant will be set up in the areas where fluoride problems are high. 

Out of a target of 45,000 farm ponds, 21,000 were completed so far and the rest would be completed shortly. Lands have been allocated for setting up of industries at Orvakal and the works are likely to be launched soon, said the collector.

Satyanarayana also stated that steps are being initiated to control the mortality rate of infants and mothers. Seasonal hostels have been started to control migrations at Adoni, Pathikonda and Alur areas. 

It has come to know that around 10,000 students are still staying out of schools and the officials were alerted to take action. He said that Kurnool ranked first in resolving the representations from the people as huge number of applications were received from this district, the Collector added.