AP Govt to encourage nature farming

Guntur: Minister for Civil Supplies Prattipati Pulla Rao said that the government is planning to encourage nature farming in five lakh acres in the state soon. He started Eruvaka (beginning of agriculture activity) at Ganapavaram village under Nadendla mandal in the district on Thursday. He started ploughing to kick start the beginning of agriculture activity.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the government is according priority for nature farming and encouraging the farmers to start nature farming. He further stated that the aim of the government is to make agriculture viable and added that the farmers are getting more income with horticulture crops than agriculture. He urged the farmers to avail the welfare schemes being introduced by the government for the welfare of farmers.

He said that the government imparted training to 60,000 farmers and they started nature farming in 1.25-lakh acres. So far 3,32-lakh soil health cards were distributed in the district, he said and added that the government is taking steps to distribute micro- nutrients to the farmers. He reminded that the government waived off Rs 24,000 crore crop loans of the farmers.

Collector Kona Sasidhar said that they are negotiating with the bankers to sanction crop loans to the farmers and tenant farmers and urged the farmers to avail the welfare schemes being implemented by the government.