Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Cooperative, Marketing, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, has directed officials to ensure an uninterrupted supply of seeds and fertilisers across the state. He emphasised the need for detailed annual reports on seed and fertiliser requirements, customised to the crops cultivated in each region, to be prepared by Ministers, MLAs, district collectors, and concerned officials.
During a review meeting held on Monday at the Secretariat with senior officials from AP Seeds, Markfed, and AP Warehousing Corporation, the Minister outlined several measures to strengthen agricultural support for farmers.
The Minister instructed officials to prioritise the distribution of high-quality seeds through AP Seeds at subsidised rates and expedite the establishment of a Mega Seed Park to enhance seed production. Utilising all 750 acres of seed production fields across 16 locations in the state was highlighted as a critical goal.
He also stressed promoting the cultivation and consumption of small grains and cereals, supported by subsidies at the seed stage. Additionally, he directed the provision of green manure fertiliser seeds on subsidy to improve soil fertility and crop quality. He added that awareness on government subsidies will be promoted through the ‘Polam Pilustondi’ programme.
Markfed officials were instructed to ensure fertilisers are available to farmers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), and Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) at the village level. Strict action was mandated to curb black marketing and inflated pricing of fertilisers.
The Minister announced a 35% subsidy on renting godowns for farmers and FPOs to store produce until they obtain remunerative prices. He also directed the full utilisation of Warehousing Corporation godowns, along with necessary repairs and recruitment to ensure smooth functioning.
Special measures were proposed to develop the Warehousing Corporation’s infrastructure and manpower to meet the growing demands of the agricultural sector. These initiatives aim to bolster the supply chain, safeguard farmers’ interests, and enhance crop yields across the state, he stated.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Department Principal Secretary Budithi Rajasekhar, Director Dr S Dilli Rao, Markfed MD Manjeer Jilani Saman, Warehousing Corporation MD Suresh Kumar, and other senior officials.
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