Alternative system must to cut production cost in agriculture

Guntur: Agriculture scientists, progressive farmers felt that there is a need for an alternative system in cultivation to reduce the cost of production in agriculture to make farming viable. Rytu Rakshana Vedia organised a programme 'Dialogue on alternative agriculture' at Revenue Bhavan in the city on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that due to use of fertilisers, soil health was damaging. Similarly, cost of production is increasing in the agriculture.

Addressing a gathering, Prof K Dilip Babu director of Research YSRC Horticulture University, said that integrated pest management is best system to save soil health and added that due to use of fertilisers soil health is damaging and productivity is deteriorating. There is need to reduce the cost of production in the agriculture to make agriculture viable and added that to check sale of spurious seeds and pesticides, the government is forming Farmers Produce Organisations (FPOs) in the state.

The FPOs formed by the government will purchase quality seeds, pesticides from the companies and sell the same to the farmers. He said that there is a need to do a lot of research in the agriculture and horticulture to reduce the cost of production. He said that hybrid varieties are attracting the consumers than the ordinary varieties. He felt that there is a need to produce good quality of organic fertilisers.

He suggested to the farmers to cultivate green manure also. Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University Prof D Narasimha Reddy said that crisis in the agriculture sector began after 1995. He said after 1995, seed cost and cost of production increased in the agriculture. He said that when the farmers are not getting good returns, they are depending on dairy farming and aqua culture. He said the tenant farmers, who are investing money for cultivating the land, are not getting any benefits from the government. He said that if the crop is damaged, the land owner is getting compensation, tenant farmer is suffering from the losses.

He said that while cost of cultivation is increasing, income is not increasing. He felt that sustainable agriculture is needed and added that the farmers are seeking implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations to make agriculture viable. Dr K Raja Rao, director of extension, Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University, said that the farmers have to get value addition to their produce.

He said that the government is promoting nature farming in the agriculture to reduce the cost of production. Dr Kolla Rajamohan Rao, who presided over the meeting, said small and marginal farmers are facing many problems due to use of spurious seeds and pesticides. He said the farmers incurring losses in the agriculture and becoming farm workers. He stressed the need to supply good quality pesticides and seeds to the farmers. He felt that there is a need for an alternative system for cultivation to make agriculture viable because 65 per cent of people depending on agriculture.