AP plans saffron cultivation in Lambasingi: CM

Transform AP into largest natural farming hub : CM

Amaravati:Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to initiate action to transform Andhra Pradesh into largest natural farming hub in the country. He said that at present 1.8 million farmers have come forward to practice natural farming across 2 million acres in the state.

Addressing a review meeting on agriculture and allied sectors at Secretariat today, the Chief Minister stressed the need to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. He stressed the importance of providing certification and traceability facilities to ensure the quality of natural farming products. He suggested that agriculture students should practice natural farming themselves.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure traceability and certification for natural farming by April this year. He announced that training programs on natural farming would be conducted statewide in collaboration with Subhash Palekar. He also stressed the need to increase the share of Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural products in national and international markets.

Recalling that Rayalaseema earlier faced severe water scarcity, he said the issue had been addressed this year through efficient water management, with all reservoirs filled and no shortage of irrigation water. Officials informed the Chief Minister that trade agreements with the US and EU have created more opportunities to increase exports of shrimp, dry chillies, mangoes, rice, and processed foods from the state. The Chief Minister stressed the need to maintain quality.

The Chief Minister directed officials to develop a Cocoa City over 500 acres in Eluru district, encompassing cultivation, processing, and marketing at international standards. He pointed out the scope for intercropping in mango, cocoa, cashew, and coconut plantations and asked officials to encourage farmers in this direction.

While noting that Andhra Pradesh ranks second in the country in banana production but lags in exports, he called for a stronger focus on boosting exports. He also directed that companies willing to take up large-scale saffron cultivation in Lambasingi under the PPP model, with participation of local tribal communities, be permitted.

The Chief Minister announced that registration of aquaculture activities would be made mandatory. To strengthen the poultry sector, he instructed that egg supply contracts for government schools and anganwadi centres be given directly to farmers. He also emphasized that state policies in agriculture and allied sectors should be aligned with central government policies.

Just as a Flower Festival was organized in Kuppam, the Chief Minister suggested organizing crop- festivals in various regions to promote awareness of different crops and boost tourism. He said reducing logistics costs would help expand markets for agricultural produce and suggested taking up the matter with the Centre, if required, to arrange dedicated railway wagons for transporting agricultural products.

He said Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a destination for horticulture and aquaculture and stressed the use of crop and satellite data to estimate yields and plan marketing accordingly. He noted that using fruit covers improved the quality and price of mangoes and suggested adopting the same method for guava and pomegranate orchards.He directed officials to set up processing units cluster-wise under food clusters and to engage with companies that have signed MoUs for food processing industries to ensure early establishment of units. He also announced that a meeting with mango processing unit owners would be held soon to resolve their issues.

The Chief Minister directed that Rythu Bazaars be set up wherever market yards exist and that existing Rythu Bazaars be modernized. He gave approval for the construction of a flower market in Vijayawada.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister launched the “DG Rythu Bazaar” app, which enables consumers to purchase vegetables online. He also launched the APAIMS app for farm machinery and the Kisan Drone app. Through these apps, farmers can book tractors, drones, grass cutters, power tillers, and balers. A total of 9,512 machines have been made available across the state for this purpose.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to create awareness among farmers so that they can directly register their crops and to take steps to resolve their doubts. Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu and senior officials were present.