Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister K. Parthasarathy said on Monday that the aim of the Rythu Chaitanya Yatra was to increase knowledge among farmers about the modern and advanced approaches in pest management practices and cultivation methods.
Speaking after inaugurating the Rythu Chaitanya Yatra vehicles here, Mr. Parthasarathy said the idea was to educate farmers and enable them to overcome problems and hurdles in the process of cultivation. The Rythu Chaitanya Yatra would play a key role in this. Farmers should get the soil in their lands tested for taking proper decisions on crops and cultivation, he suggested.
Mr. Parthasarathy said based on the soil testing reports, the farmers could consult experts and agricultural scientists to use fertilisers and pesticides that would be more effective in the respective soils. Rythu Chaitanya Yatra would help remove doubts of farmers over drip irrigation, nurseries, pest management and crop growth.
Asserting that the Congress government under the leadership of late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and present Chief Minister K. Rosaiah did a lot for the farmers, Mr. Parthasarathy said it was their Government that waived loans in order to help farmers come out of their crisis.
The Minister said as in the case of self help groups of women, pavala vaddi loans would be offered to farmers and members of Rythu Mithra groups.
Agriculture Deputy Director K. Sridhar, Assistant Director K. Poornachandra Rao and department officials were present.
