Bring down use of fertilisers: CM

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu suggested to Agriculture Department officials to reduce usage of fertilisers in the coming agriculture year.

1. Says the usage of fertilisers should be reduced from 204 kg per hectare to 140 kg per hectare
2. Farmers should be encouraged to store agricultural produce in godowns and cold-storage units

He said that at present the farmers are using more than 204 kg of fertilisers per hectare and that should be brought down to 140 kg per hectare. Naidu held a review meeting on Agriculture Planning for 2018-19, at the Secretariat on Saturday. 

Stating that consumption of fertilisers across the country was coming down, he said that it should come down in the State also. At the same time, he suggested to officials to ensure supply of fertilisers and other nutrients to the farmers on time. 

Officials informed that farmers of Maize were using fertilisers and nutrients and they were getting good yield also. It is estimated that maize is being cultivated in an extent of about 65,000 hectares by 1.65 lakh farmers in the State.  The officials estimated that this number would cross more than five lakh farmers in the ensuing agriculture year. 

Chandrababu Naidu said that farmers should be encouraged to construct cold storage units and godowns in their locality in order to store their produce for remunerative prices.

While discussing instable market price for agriculture produces, Chandrababu Naidu said that there was a need to alert farmers on market instability, like the way government was giving alert messages on thunderbolts and cloud bursts in the State.  Officials informed Naidu that e-trade to the tune of more than Rs 3,400 crore was recorded in Guntur Mirchi Yard. 

Duggirala Market in Guntur district emerged as number one in the country in doing e-transactions in agriculture marketing, they told the Chief Minister.