Krishi Vignan Kendras should guide farmers

Kothagudem: Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury underlined that the Krishi Vignan Kendra should guide farmers in increasing their finances.

Speaking at an awareness programme ‘Sankalpamtho Siddhi’ organised at the Kendra, she urged the Agriculture department staff to strive to solve the problems of small and marginal farmers with a clear plan of crops to be taken up. Besides, the staff should cooperate in sanctioning of loans to them.

Renuka said the interests of ryots were being ignored despite the rapid strides in the science and technology sector, while clarifying that she was not speaking as a politician but as a member of a farmer’s family. She questioned as to why no attention was being paid to stick to prevailing market rates.

The MP called for more participation of women in farming for which they should be given modern tools. Citing the example of famous Khammam prawns, the MP said there was a need for encouraging allied activities of agriculture.

She called for giving importance to organic fertilisers, while explaining the benefits of cow urine. “Countries like Brazil are showing interest in such fertilisers and raising cattle to promote cow urine,” she stated.

The MP said raising of marigold crop could fetch Rs 10,000 per acre. “If farmers are given loans to secure seeds during the season, they would strive for achieving higher outputs, depending on the type of soil. Better results can be achieved If educated farmers are encouraged to take up farming,” she said.

Kothagudem MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao said the capacity of Singambhupalem tank was being expanded to cover 2,400 acres, from 1,000 acres under the Mission Kakatiya project. He urged the Kendra staff to encourage allied sectors like poultry farming.

The MLA further stated that if fish farming was encouraged in ponds in Palvancha, the farmers could achieve more financial progress. He revealed that 900 persons were able to secure employment after 90 solar bores were sanctioned in Girijan areas.

The guests released pamphlets on ‘Sankalpamtho Siddhi’. They administered a pledge to farmers, with stress on creating more awareness with a planned approach for achieving financial progress.

Among those present were Joint Collector M Ramkishan, Municipal Chairperson Puli Geetha, KVK scientists Anand Singh and Raghuram Reddy, convener Srinivas, agricultural officers Pratap, Karunasri, Ramamurthy, Market Committee Chairman Harilal and Atma Committee Chairman Pachchi Reddy.