Distribution of seeds for Kharif crops to begin soon

State Chief Secretary Dr KS Jawahar Reddy has directed the officials of the Agriculture Department to take measures for the distribution of various types of seeds to the farmers in the state in this Kharif agriculture season. He said that the farmers are preparing for Kharif crop cultivation in the state and ordered the officials to take appropriate measures to provide the seeds of rice, groundnut, cotton etc. needed by the farmers in time. He said that the various seeds needed by the farmers should be made available in time at Rythu Bharosa Centers. Dr Jawahar Reddy has directed to take strict action against the responsible suppliers if there are any complaints that fake or ungerminated seeds are being distributed to the farmers.
Gopala Krishna Dwivedi, Special Principal Secretary of the State Department of Agriculture, said that as the Kharif season of 2024 is about to start, appropriate steps have been taken to make the various subsidized seeds available to the farmers. He explained regarding rice seeds, 2, 24,154 quintals are needed, and beyond that, 2, 35,000 quintals are available, and presently 67, 617 quintals of seeds are ready to distribute.
Similarly, regarding cotton cultivation, Special CS Gopalakrishna Dwivedi stated that while there is a general area of 5,77,000 hectares in the state, it is estimated that cotton will be cultivated in 5,21,000 hectares for which 26,06, 260 packets of cotton seeds are needed. Dwivedi explained that 13, 69, 428 packets belonging to famous companies such as Rasi, Kohinoor, etc. and 4, 58, 300 packets of other types of cotton seeds have been made available.
Gopalakrishna Dwivedi said that necessary measures are being taken to provide the required 100% quality seeds to the farmers in a timely manner. He further said that MoUs have been signed with 40 leading seed companies and appropriate measures have been taken to supply the necessary seeds on time. He said that in order to take strict action against them, the Department of Agriculture is constantly monitoring up to the village level. Gopalakrishna Dwivedi said that six criminal cases were registered in connection with such complaints last year.
AP State Seed Development Corporation MD Shiva Prasad, JD VDV Kripadas and other officials participated in this meeting.