PNS|Vijayawada
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed agriculture officials to advance the Kharif season by releasing irrigation water early, in a bid to protect crops from recurring cyclone threats. The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting held at the Undavalli camp office on Tuesday, where the Chief Minister stressed the importance of proactive planning for agricultural resilience.
Following his instructions, the Agriculture Department has begun the early release of irrigation water to the Godavari and Krishna delta regions. Water has already reached farmlands in the districts of West Godavari, Eluru, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, and Krishna. Guntur, Bapatla, and Prakasam districts are expected to receive water by early July.
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s vulnerability to cyclones — 14 in the past 20 years, particularly in October and Novembe r— Naidu underlined the urgency of completing sowing operations before the cyclone season. The key Kharif crops include paddy, red gram, groundnut, and cotton. While groundnut and cotton acreage has declined, red gram cultivation has increased and paddy cultivation remains stable.
Outlining a broader vision for year-round farming, the Chief Minister stressed that farmlands across the state should remain green throughout the year.
He proposed cultivating three crops annually, especially in regions like Anantapur where land remains fallow for eight months. Officials were instructed to take up farming on five lakh acres during the summer across the north coastal, Godavari, and Krishna delta regions by utilising water from reservoirs, tanks, and groundwater across 141 mandals.
To boost farmer incomes, Naidu suggested intercropping fruits and vegetables along widened paddy bunds, to be developed using MGNREGS funds. He also encouraged pilot initiatives in aquaculture and horticulture alongside conventional crops.
On procurement, officials reported satisfactory progress in HD Burley tobacco procurement at Parchur AMC and noted rising interest in alternative crops. Procurement of cocoa and mango is also in progress.
Three new services—crop insurance, mechanisation, and MARKFED—have been integrated into the “Mana Mitra” WhatsApp Governance platform to improve access for farmers. The Chief Minister called for awareness campaigns via both online and offline channels.
Finally, he urged officials to reduce fertiliser usage from 39 lakh to 35 lakh metric tonnes to protect soil health. He also advocated increased cultivation of pulses and millets, and directed that loan disbursals to farmers be completed within 24 hours during the season.
