Telangana Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy on Monday called upon farmers to use modern agriculture equipment and technology.
This will help improve yield and productivity, he said, inaugurating the third edition of Agritex 2015 in the city.
Highlighting how the State government was actively encouraging progressive farming methods, the Minister said it was working out modalities of the input subsidy proposed for two-wheel/four-wheel tractors with rotavators for farmers. With over 10,000 applications, the government intends to work on the proposal for 2015-16, he said.
Modern implements such as multi-wheel tractors, harvester, tillers, power tillers and rotavators, in the backdrop of rising labour shortage, are helping farmers bring larger areas under cultivation. It also leaves progressive farmers with more time to work on other aspects of modern-day farming methods, the Minister said.
The Minister also listed various government programmes to promote industries in the value chain, including a mega food park at Buggapadu village in Khammam district, spread over 100 acres. An investment of over Rs.200 crore is expected in the form of large and SME units at this Park, with a potential to generate 6,000 jobs.
The State government has allocated 100 acres at Bandamylaram village in Medak district for a seed park. The facility is expected to generate over 800 jobs. The three-day fair, being organised by Kenes Exhibitions, in association with HITEX Exhibitions, focuses on the value-chain of the agri-business industry, a release on the inauguration said.