Jagan orders 100 percent e-cropping to optimise farmer benefits

AMARAVATI: Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy conducted a review on the Agriculture Department here on Friday and emphasized the need for providing quality seeds to the farmers. He directed the officials to complete 100 percent e-cropping to maximize the benefits for farmers.

During the review, the Chief Minister instructed the authorities to test the quality of the seeds regularly, which are being supplied to the farmers. Also, he told them to ensure that there were no errors in providing seeds and fertilizers to the farmers and asked them to look into the issue carefully.

The officials informed him that there were sufficient reserves of fertilizers and were being provided through Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs). He asked the officials to take daily updates regarding the supply of seeds, fertilizers and the prices of agri products from agriculture assistants in RBKs.

Reviewing e-cropping, he ordered the authorities to complete 100 percent e-cropping by the first week of September, without any errors. He told them to closely monitor the process on a daily basis and issue both physical and digital receipts after e-cropping. Also, he asked them to correct if there are any mistakes on the web land. Further, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take appropriate measures to provide maximum benefit to the farmers, as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is partnered with YSR Free Crop Insurance Scheme.

The Chief Minister also discussed with the officials the use of drones in agriculture and asked them to prepare master trainers for providing training on the usage, maintenance, and repair of drones. He directed the officials to provide training on the use of drones to the ITI or Polytechnic students selecting one college from each constituency.

Meanwhile, the officials briefed the Chief Minister on the preparation of kharif and stated that higher than normal rainfall was recorded across the state, with 16.2 percent high rainfall recorded till August 3.

Agriculture Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy, AP Agri-Mission Vice Chairman MVS Nagireddy, Government Adviser (Agriculture) Ambati Krishna Reddy, Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma and Special CS for Agriculture Department Poonam Malakondaiah were among those present at the meeting.