Take up organic farming: Prathipati

September 22, 2016 12:00 am | Updated November 01, 2016 08:11 pm IST - KURNOOL:

Minister for Agriculture Prathipati Pulla Rao has called upon farmers to take up organic farming with minimal investment and using natural resources that would safeguard public health.

Organic farming would promote their economic well-being and health, he said while addressing women farmers, Farmer Producers Samakhya members and organic farmers after inaugurating Seva Gramabhivrudhi Samstha office at Uyyalawada village in Orvakal mandal in Kurnool district on Wednesday.

The Minister earlier inaugurated a farmers’ producers society in the village and lauded the farmers’ initiative to take up the organic farming. Sale of organic farm produce would be easier and can be exported to other States, he said. Referring to the plight of onion growers, Mr. Pulla Rao promised purchase of onion at Rs. 7 a kg.

Farmers of Uyyalawada achieved a turover of Rs. 25 crore through organic farming and there was a scope to achieve a turnover of Rs. 600 crore, Krishi Vignana Kendram official Muniratnam Naidu said. The farmers of Uyyalawada were sanctioned interest-free loans of lakhs of rupees for organic farming and up to Rs. 3 lakh under Pavala Vaddi scheme, he said and advised farmers to promptly repay loan.

Special Chief Secretary of Agriculture Vijaya Kumar said a Farm Producers Samakhya would be set up at Uyyalawada and farmers’ societies in 139 clusters. MP Jairam Ramesh sanctioned Rs. 25 lakh from his MPLADs for construction of Farmer Producers’ Society office and the farmers contributed Rs. 15 lakh for it, he said.

The Minister gave away cheques of Rs. 25,000 each to members of 10 farmer socities to promote organic farming.

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