PM Modi lauds Andhra Pradesh farmer for establishing cow-based organic farming company

TIRUPATI: A farmer in Andhra Pradesh has been lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for educating his fellow agriculturalists on Central Government schemes.

Reddyvari Batthi Reddy, a small farmer in TMV Kandriga of SriKalahasti mandal in Tirupati district founded Kalahasteeswara Farmer Producer Company Limited. It earned huge profits by practising cow-based organic farming methods in palm oil cultivation with low investment.

Batthi Reddy studied various subsidies and schemes offered by the Central Government to farmers and shared the idea of cultivating crops in an innovative way. “The subsidies and cooperation provided by the Centre to reduce oil yields attracted me a lot. I felt that group cultivation is more profitable than individual cultivation,” he said.

Established in 2020, the company initially had 310 farmers as shareholders and planted palm oil trees. “We are practising cow-based organic farming in the palm oil orchards and earning high profits. The earned profits are being shared equally between shareholders and farmers,” Batthi Reddy said.

Attracted by Battireddy's ideas, agricultural practices and crop yields, the farmers came forward to join the Company. Currently, as many as 550 shareholders are part of the cooperative society, which was moving forward by combining modern agriculture with organic methods to bring profit to the farmers.

After getting to know about the performance and capacity of this society, officials of the Central Agriculture Department submitted a report to the Union Government which grabbed the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An elated Batthi Reddy said that he was invited to attend the Independence Day celebrations in the national capital and a luncheon meeting with Prime Minister.

“Due to health issues, I couldn't participate in the meeting with Narendra Modi. Currently, farmers are benefiting from the schemes offered by the Centre. Steps should be taken by the Centre to introduce some more schemes for the holistic development of farmers,” Batthi Reddy said.