Farmers told to take up rabi paddy cultivation by month-end

Mancherial: District Collector R V Karnan on Monday advised the officials of agriculture and irrigation departments to initiate coordinated steps to ensure that the farmers take up Rabi paddy cultivation by the end of December.

Addressing a review meeting on paddy cultivation, along with Peddapalli MLA Diwakar Rao and officials of the two departments, he directed them to create awareness among farmers to take up a paddy variety, instead of the fine variety, which gives yield in 125 days. This, he said, was found suitable in view of the expected hailstorm and rain in April. Hence, the saplings should be planted in March itself, the Collector stressed.

Karnan directed the Irrigation officials to release water for the Rabi season on December 23 from the Gudem lift scheme and to ensure that it reached the last ayacut.

He asked cotton farmers to pay the premium of the PM Phasal Beema Yojana by December 31.Among those present were District Joint Administrative Officer Surender Rao, Bellampalli Rajaswa Mandal officers Srinivas, Veeranna, DCMS Chairman Srinivas Reddy, Luxettipet ZPTC member Lakshman, JEs, the District Irrigation Officer, the Agriculture Officer.