The Andhra Pradesh government has set a target of 25% growth in the agriculture sector and 30% in its allied sectors during next fiscal. The government has decided to encourage mixed crop cultivation under the Nava Dhanya scheme.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called a meeting on agriculture and its allied sectors as apart of pre-budget exercise at the Secretariat, near here, on Thursday.
On the occasion, Mr. Naidu said that the ayacut for the third crop under the Pattiseema project needed to be finalised. Water levels in Pulichintala, Nagarjunasagar, and Srisailam would go down during November and December. It was necessary to prepare advanced planning to provide water for the second crop. The water would have to be stored and levels maintained. It was equally important to ensure that there was no drinking water crisis during summer, he said.
The fisheries sector would have to take a lead role in ensuring food security. There was no dearth of funds. The fisheries and horticulture departments still would have to spend ₹200 crore allocated in the current fiscal budget, he said.
Fodder cultivation in Krishna district also needed to be encouraged. The officials would have to encourage farmers to go in for organic farming.
Chemicals and pesticides usage should be discouraged. Effective use of rain guns would help in saving the standing crops, he added.
