CM KCR sees big role for AEOs in growth of farm sector
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said that the Agriculture extension officers (AEOs) of each cluster should take the responsibility of taking the state towards establishing crop colonies, mechanization and establishing of food processing units.
The Chief Minister said that in the meeting to be held on 4th June at HICC Convention Hall in there will be thorough discussion issues like farmers insurance. The AEOs, District Agriculture officers and Coordinators of Rythu Samanvaya Samithis will take part in the meeting.
KCR held a review meeting in Pragathi Bhawan on Saturday afternoon with Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Rythu Samanvaya Samithi Chairman MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy, MPs Jithender Reddy and Balka Suman, Mission Bhagiratha Vice Chairman Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Agriculture Principal Secretary Parthasarathy, Commissioner Jagan Mohan, CM Secretary Smita Sabarwal, former MLA Chander Rao and officials of Agriculture Department.
The Chief Minister said, that, the government has been doing its best for the welfare of the farmer by providing round the clock free power supply, arrangement of timely distribution of seeds and fertilizers, investment support, farmers Insurance, etc., and against this background if there is a good crop from three, four years the farmers future will be highly bright.
KCR said that AEO appointed for a cluster of 5000 acres should have detailed information of all the farmers in his cluster and the entire information of all the clusters should be on the table of Agriculture Minister in his computer. The AEO should educate the farmer in his cluster on the cropping pattern and about the best crop that suits the soil etc. The AEO should also coordinate the marketing facility on the farmers produce both within the state and outside the state in the neighboring states. When a farmer dies it will be the responsibility of the AEO to monitor from the claim to release of the Insured amount and should see that it reaches the nominee. He said it is also responsibility of the AEO to collect from the Insured farmer the details of nomination. The AEOs should not behave like officers but are to be promoters of farmers' interest and to be a team leader, he said.
The Chief Minister favored quick mechanization in the entire state by assessing the existing facilities and the future requirement. He instructed the officials to see that the required machinery and implements tools are to be made available to every farmer to make use of them from nursery to harvest. He said that adequate budget provision will be made for funds next year. He also said that to supplement and complement various crops that are produced the required food processing units are to be established. Similarly pulp units are to be established for the benefits of Horticulture farmers.
KCR said that the farmers are in the habit of preferring cropping in a traditional way which needs to be changed by educating them and also by providing required skill to go for profitable crops. The responsibility of this again lies with AEO. The present scenario of importing flowers, fruits and vegetables should be reversed and Telangana should be in a position to export them. He advised the Agriculture Minister and Chairman of the Rythu Samanvaya Samithi to work towards making Agriculture profitable. He said that once irrigated water is made available through Palamuru, Sitarama, Kaleshwaram projects, Telangana will become No 1 state in agriculture.
The Chief Minister advised the officers that they should post a detailed letter with Minister signature to all the farmers briefing them about the schemes designed and being implemented for farmer to give him added confidence. He said as part of the Insurance Bonds distribution from 15th of August, meetings of farmers should be held in every village educating them on various aspects of farming and mechanization. MPs, MLAs and MLCs will be participating in these meetings, he said.