The State government has chalked out plans to promote organic farming across the State in the next five years. The objective is to see that agriculture is profitable and doesn’t impact the environment, according to Government Adviser B. Vijay Kumar.
At a press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Mr. Vijay Kumar said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would extend financial and technical assistance to Andhra Pradesh in promoting organic farming. The Azim Premji Foundation would also give a grant of ₹100 crore. A meeting with small and marginal farmers would be conducted in Visakhapatnam from November 15 to 17 to create awareness among them. The AP Rythu Sadhikara Samstha would promote organic farming in 12,900 villages.
About 40,000 farmers had switched over to organic farming in one lakh acres. The target is to take up 5 lakh hectares involving 5 lakh farmers in the next 5 years. The government has earmarked ₹700 crore for it.