7 lakh packets of cotton seeds  needed for Asifabad farmers    

The district has prepared an action plan to raise various crops during the forthcoming kharif season in an extent of 4.5-lakh acres. The agriculture department officials have submitted a report to the government seeking 7 lakh cotton seeds packets and 85,816 tons of fertilizes.
The farmers are preparing to raise the kharif crops as the Met office predicted the arrival of monsoons during June. According to a plan prepared by agriculture department officials, the farmers are likely to cultivate crops in more area of land under various crops during the kharif.
The farmers have been preparing the land for the kharif tilling it and keeping ready seeds and fertilisers from now onwards much before the occurrence of the Rohini Karte, marking the entry of Sun into the star Rohini.
The agriculture officials have been preparing lists of requirement of seeds and fertilisers by each village.
The farmers have been practising only the rain-fed agriculture as irrigation projects in the district require completion, non-availability of irrigation facility. Therefore, the farmers are inclined to cultivate only the cotton cultivation which is cultivated depending on the monsoons. The officials say that the cotton crop occupies the one-third area of land under various crops during the current season.
In fact, the farmers are keen to raise cotton crops in 3.5 lakh acres requiring over 7 lakh cotton seeds packets. The area under paddy is going to be 59000 acres, requiring the supply of 14,803 quintals of seeds.
The officials put the requirement of urea for the district at 45,060 tons, while 11,265 tons of the DAP is needed for the district. The district also requires Potash and complex fertilisers. They put the total requirement of fertilisers of the district at 85,816 tons.
Meanwhile, DAO of Asifabad Srinivas said that the department is taking all measures to make available necessary seeds and fertilisers to the farmers. Therefore, they should buy seeds from the licensed traders only. They should desist from buying spurious seeds. He asked them to follow the suggestions of agriculture officials and collect their bills at the time of buying seeds and fertilisers.