STAR FARMER: Kotla Jayasuryaprakasa Reddy, MP, presenting award to the best farmer in Kurnool on Wednesday. — Photo: U. Subramanyam

KURNOOL: MP Kotla Jayasuryaprakasa Reddy has asked farmers to take auxiliary activities like domestic poultry, dairy and ram-rearing to earn additional income. The MP presented the best farmer awards to a group of progressive farmers at a function organised by the Agriculture Department and district administration.

MLA M.A. Gafoor presided over the meeting while Mayor S. Raghurami Reddy, Collector M. Dana Kishore and others were present.

The Mayor said debt-ridden farmers committed suicide just to redeem their self-esteem. Mr. Dana Kishore called upon the farmers to adopt modern methods of crop management for better productivity.

Priority for agriculture

Chittoor Corrrespondent adds: Top priority would be given to agriculture and allied departments in order to uplift the economic standards of farmers and prevent suicides which was neglected by the earlier Government, said Animal Husbandry Minister Gollapalle Suryarao at the award function for farmers and employees held here on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, he said the Government is providing facilities such as free power, water, quality seeds and pesticides at 50% subsidy rate and also technical guidance to boost their production.

District Collector S.S. Rawath said that Rs.200 crores would be spent on the works undertaken under NREGS for providing wages to the unskilled labourers. There was good response to the National Horticulture Mission as farmers came forward to collect saplings to be planted in 21,000 hectares of land.

Plea to scientists

Anantapur Staff Reporter writes: Zilla Parishad Chairperson T. Kavitha said that the State Government was giving priority to develop agriculture sector to restore self confidence among the farming community in distress. Speaking at a function to give away the awards, the ZP Chairperson mentioned that the sincerity of the State Government in taking up welfare measures for the farming community could be gauged from the fact that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had signed his first file on waiver of farm power dues and free power scheme to agriculture. Besides, irrigation projects taken up under `jalayagnam' and other extension programmes like `polam badi, panta marpidi, rythus chaitanya yatralu' and others were also aimed to helping out the farmers on and off the field.

Anantapur MP A. Venkatarami Reddy said the State Government was committed to bailing out the agriculture sector out of crisis. Supple of seed with subsidy and widening the scope of credit were also part of efforts to encourage agriculture.

He asked the agriculture scientists and officers to be on the field instead of offices.

Anantapur legislator B. Narayana Reddy said that the State Government was examining the possibility of extending subsidy on micro irrigation implements. Joint Collector Anita Rajendra suggested the farmers to adopt new technology and developments in the field to achieve better productivity and better returns. Anantapur Mayor R. Prasuram also spoke.

Later, awards were given away to best farmers and officers selected by agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, animal husbandry and DWMA departments. Joint Director of Agriculture P. Pothaiah, CEO of ZP K. Sripathai Rao, Superintending Engineer of APCDC A. Gopal and others participated.

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