The State government is planning to organise seed melas in all district headquarters from the next year to make available quality seed to farmers.
This was stated by Minister for Agriculture S. Nirajan Reddy after inaugurating the seed mela organised on the campus of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University here on Friday.
He announced that the farm loan waiver up to ₹1 lakh would be implemented once the election model conduct of conduct was over.
He said that several long-term initiatives taken by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao were bringing revolutionary changes in the agricultural sector in the State and several other States were emulating Telangana by introducing similar schemes.
Reiterating that the State government was firm to strengthen the agricultural sector, the Minister said several other initiatives were in the pipeline to make agriculture profitable.
Farm equipment
A large number of farmers from the surrounding areas of the city turned up at the mela to procure quality seed ahead of the commencement of agricultural season.
The farmers also went round stalls enquiring about the utility of various farm equipment on display.
The seed mela-cum-exhibition was jointly organised by Department of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture and local ICAR research institutes such as Indian Institute of Millets Research, Indian Institute of Rice Research, Indian Institute of Oil Seeds Research, Central Research Institute for Dry Land Agriculture, Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute, National Academy of Agricultural Research and Management, Directorate of Poultry, National Seeds Corporation, Telangana State Seed Development Corporation, Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Authority and veterinary and horticultural universities.
New varieties
Explaining about the seed mela, Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU V. Praveen Rao said efforts were made to supply quality seed to farmers through the mela.
He stated that they were planning to release eight new seed varieties in rice, pulses and maize crops next month. Similar seed melas were being planned at Regional Agricultural Research Stations at Jagtial, Warangal and Palem for the benefit of farmers.
Commissioner of Agriculture Rahul Bojja, Director of TSSOCA K. Keshavulu, directors of several wings of PJTSAU ICAR research institutes participated in the event.
