Andhra Pradesh - Cuddapah   

More groundnut seed for Cuddapah in 10 days

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, JUNE 14. The Principal Secretary of Agriculture, A.K. Goel, said on Monday that 5.50 lakh quintals of groundnut seeds have been distributed among farmers in the State.

Addressing agricultural officials in the Collector's chambers this evening, Mr. Goel said Cuddapah district was allotted 24,000 quintals so far and the remaining 26,000 quintals would be sent within 10 days.

Urging the agricultural officials to establish rapport with the farmers and ensure that incidents like the assault in Galiveedu, did not recur. He advised them to issue coupons to farmers only after receipt of seed stocks at the godowns.

The Principal Secretary instructed the departmental officials to plan in advance keeping in view the seed quantity required village-wise. He asked them to issue seeds only on one pattadar passbook to each farmer, even if they possessed more than one.

Mr. Goel directed constitution of special squads and stern action to check sale of spurious seeds, fertilisers and pesticides in the district. He asked them to implement the action plan for soil testing based on the results recorded mandal-wise.

The District Collector, Jayesh Ranjan, said allotment of Rs. 50 crores for the agriculture department in the district was recommended in the master plan.

Horticultural crops suffered extensive damage due to scanty rainfall over the years and depletion of groundwater. He sought additional allotment of groundnut seeds to the district and 5,000 quintals of sunflower seeds of the Ganga, Kaveri and Sunbred varieties, being preferred by farmers.

Mr. Ranjan said farmers could raise groundnut crop in 1.50 lakh hectares as against the normal 1.25 lakh hectares. Steps were being taken to raise wild castor and kanuga trees in wastelands, he said and added that 6,460 rythu mitra groups had been formed in the district. He urged the agricultural officials to take steps to check the red caterpillar infestation of groundnut crop in Rayachoti and Lakkireddipalle constituencies.

The Additional Director of Agriculture, T. Peddi Reddy, suggested farmers who raised sunflower crop earlier, to take up alternative crops like soya bean, red gram etc., to retain soil fertility. The Managing Director of A.P. Seed Development Corporation, S. Babu Rao, Joint Director of Agriculture, Mohd. Nazeer Ali, deputy director, Chandraiah and ADs from all over the district participated.

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