Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah on Tuesday called upon farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and adopt natural farming practices to protect soil health and improve agricultural sustainability.
The Collector participated in the 100th episode of the Rythu Nestam programme, conducted virtually by Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao with senior of-ficials. He attended the programme at the Rythu Vedika in Utnoor along with Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju, officials and farmers.
Addressing the gathering after the programme, the Collector said excessive use of urea and DAP fertilisers was affecting soil fertility and the environment. He said the use of cow dung and organic manure would help improve soil health and that the government was extending support to farmers adopting natural farming.
With the district receiving below-normal rainfall, he advised farmers to conserve moisture through intercropping and mulching. He also suggested the construction of farm ponds and recharge pits to improve groundwater levels. The Collector said the government was promoting al-ternative crops and oil palm cultivation and providing substantial subsidies for microirrigation, including to D-form patta farmers.
He said an additional 1,350 metric tonnes of DAP fertiliser would soon be supplied to the district. Farmers without land titles would also be able to obtain fertilisers through the des-ignated mobile application. He encouraged the use of nano fertilisers and said pending payments of 130 crore for jowar procurement would soon be credited to farmer’s bank accounts.
MLA Vedma Bojju urged farmers to follow scientific farming practices and adapt their cultivation methods to changing climatic conditions. He called for a return to traditional organic farming and stressed the need to conserve water in view of climaterelated challenges.
The MLA advised people to construct recharge pits at their homes and fields to conserve drinking and irrigation water. He cautioned farmers against being misled by private traders promoting impractical hybrid seeds and unverified fertiliser products. He said efforts would be made to establish an oil palm processing unit in the region to encourage cultivation of the crop. He also appealed to farmers to plant trees along field bunds and directed agriculture officials to regularly visit villages and provide technical guidance.
On the occasion, the Collec-tor and the MLA felicitated agriculture officials and progressive farmers for their performance by presenting mementoes. They also distributed saplings to farmers and visited stalls set up at the Rythu Vedika.RDO Mohan Singh, District Agriculture Officer Ravinder, MRO Raghunath, MPDO Raisuddin, ADAS Sridhar and Ram Kishan, PACS Chairman Prabhakar Reddy, Sarpanch Anita, offi-cials from agriculture, horticulture and other departments, farmers and villagers partici-pated in the programme.
