Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Ryots advised against sinking borewells

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, JULY 8. The District Collector, Y.V. Anuradha, has appealed to farmers to stop exploration of groundwater further as it has already depleted to alarming levels. Lack of rainfall has worsened the situation further, she said.

Speaking after inaugurating a one-day training programme for farmer-beneficiaries from six mandals on the maintenance of agriculture demonstration plots here on Thursday, she said farmers were being forced into a debt trap in their quest for groundwater to save standing crops, in spite of suffering loss due to drying up of borewells regularly.

Continuing drought had a severe impact on the groundwater table, she said, adding that the administration's efforts to provide drinking water to places like Hindupur were also proving futile due to lack of water source, even 5 km away from town.

It was time farmers decided themselves collectively against sinking new borewells for irrigation, she suggested. She also appealed to farmers not to lose heart, as the Government would help them in all possible ways.

The Collector asked farmers to thrive for more yield by investing less with the guidance of agriculture officials. She cautioned farmers against spurious seed and suggested that they contact agriculture officers in this regard.

Stating that the administration would give importance to formation of farm ponds, she said they would help farmers save standing crops in case of long dry spells. She also asked farmers to take up allied activities like dairy, sheep and poultry farming alongside agriculture.

The Joint Director of Agriculture, D. Ranga Reddy, explained that each demonstration plot would be of 12.5 acres land belonging to about five or six farmers. The Government would supply seed, fertiliser and pesticide required for crops raised on the plot, on subsidy.

The principal scientist of Agriculture Research Station of ANGRAU at Rekulakunta, T. Yallamanda Reddy, and other officials were present.

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