AP State to celebrate Eruvaka as festival

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will launch Eruvaka Purnima programme at Ravikantipet village of Srikakulam district on June 28. District-level committees were formed for organising Eruvaka Purnima under the chairmanship of district collectors with joint director of agriculture as convener in all the districts simultaneously.

Eruvaka festival is aimed at gearing up the farmers for starting agricultural operations with the onset of the south-west monsoon and to inspire them to achieve higher productivity in agriculture in the ensuing season.

District in-charge ministers, MPs, MLAs and other people’s representatives, including single window presidents will be invited to the Eruvaka Purnima. Traditional cultural programmes will be followed by ploughing of fields.

The agricultural department officials will make arrangements for agriculture exhibition, distribution of Soil Health Cards and Soil Test-based fertiliser application, correction of micro-nutrient deficiency, encouragement for organic, natural and  zero-budget (nature) farming and help the farmers in other farm-based programmes.

Allied departments like animal husbandry, sericulture, horticulture, fisheries, AP Seeds, APAGROS and APMIP may  also set up stalls at the venue and conduct departmental activities and achievements.

Live demonstrations on seed treatment, farm implements, soil sampling, precautions regarding handling of the pesticides will be displayed along with live models. 

After launching of Eruvaka programme, grama sabhas will be organised. Scientists will explain the package of practices for major crops cultivated in the particular district.

Meanwhile, in Krishna delta, the farmers are pinning hopes on Godavari water released from Pattiseema through Polavaram right main canal. It may be noted that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu released Godavari waters from Pattiseema on June 21. So far, 18,741 cusecs of water reached Krishna river at Pavitra Sangamam upstream of Prakasam barrage. 

The officials are releasing around 3,265 cusecs of water from Pattiseema daily as the Godavari river inflow stands at 14,738 cusecs. Minister for agriculture Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said that the farmer-friendly state government has been providing necessary help to farmers. 

He said necessary technical know-how would be provided to farmer to take up cultivation basing on weather, soil conditions and quality seeds would be supplied. He said the cultivation would be taken up based on market trends by giving up traditional cropping patterns to prevent losses to farmers.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is keen on helping farmers to take up modern and best farming practices, he added. The endowments department also directed all temple administrative bodies to perform special pujas on the day for success of farmers with good yields.