Dialogue way forward to end impasse: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday emphasised that dialogue was the way forward to resolve the demands raised by farmers against the new farm laws introduced by the Union government recently. He hoped that the Centre would break the deadlock over farm laws soon.

Interacting with a group of progressive farmers on the occasion of 'Kisan Diwas' at his residence in Hyderabad, the Vice President said that any issue could be resolved through talks and added that the government has already declared that they are always ready to hold a dialogue with the farmers organisations. He said that food security and progress of the nation were closely linked to agriculture, which has to be protected and made sustainable and profitable. Stating that the government has taken many initiatives with a view to doubling the income of farmers, he stressed the need to increase productivity and make agriculture climate-resilient. There was also a need to promote crop diversification, organic farming and nutrition-rich varieties.

Farmers informed the Vice President that they were quite happy after switching over to organic and natural farming as they were getting good profits because of diversification and intercrop cultivation. A progressive farmer, G Nagaratnam Naidu from Chittoor, said that he was implementing integrated farming, bio-diversity and effective water management. He was cultivating a wide variety of crops by using less water. Devarapalli Harikrishna from Bhadradri Kothagudem district, a techie-turned farmer, said that he was using modern technology to promote organic farming and was getting good results.Byrapaka Raju from Nagarkurnool district said that he was a distressed farmer once but has turned into an inspiration to other farmers.

He is cultivating 500 types of seeds and was giving advice to farmers through social media groups. Sukhavasi Haribabu from Ranga Reddy district informed that he was into horticulture and was growing a wide variety of fruits and medicinal plants by adopting integrated farming methods. Yadlapati Venkateswara Rao, a recipient of Padma Shri and Editor of Rythu Nestham, was also present.