No agriculture officer will be spared if he/she fails to extend services to farmers on time, said Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy. The Minister said that about 1,000 agriculture extension officers would be appointed shortly across the State to improve services for the farmers.
“What message does it send if we fail to extend services to the farming community even after having this big an establishment? the Minister asked agriculture officers here on Thursday.
He has asked the officials to be available for / approachable by farmers during the season. Informing that sufficient quantity of seeds and fertilizers were kept ready in the State, he has asked the officials to ensure that they reached the farmers on time.
Participating in a review meeting held here on Thursday, Mr. Srinivas Reddy said that these seeds would be made available at the cooperative societies. “Farmers should not suffer due to lack of seeds when about 900 cooperatives were functioning in the State. Government has been supplying seeds like red gram, green gram and soyabean at subsidised cost,” he said adding that sealing on the supply of seeds was removed and farmers could get seeds depending on the extent of land. District Collector D. Ronald Rose said that licences were issued to cooperative societies for selling seeds and fertilizers.
Cooperative Department Registrar Veerabrahmaiah, Seeds Corporation Managing Director Murali, MLA Chinta Prabhakar and others were present.
