Agriculture Department Targets 70 Lakh Acres of Cotton Cultivation

Hyderabad, June 22 (Hydnow): The State agriculture department has fixed a target of 70 lakh acres in cotton and 15 lakh acres of red gram cultivation in the Kharif season.

Minister for Agriculture Singireddy Niranjan Reddy held a review meeting with officials concerned at Rythu Bandu Samithi office here on Wednesday and discussed about the plan of action for the rainy season in Telangana.

During the meeting, officials were asked to take steps for the adequate availability of seeds and fertilizers and to supply them across the State without having the delay.

Niranjan Reddy also directed that farmers should be asked to go for soil tests and based on that fertilizer need to be sprayed to protect soil degradation and to encourage them to use organic manure.

Officials were also asked to take stringent action against the dealers and manufacturers who indulge in fake seeds trade, and were directed to carry out the surprise inspections in their respective areas.

The gullible farmers are incurring losses due to the spurious seeds, which affect the soil in the long term, Niranjan Reddy said.

“Due to excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, the soil degradation is taking place and on the other hand, the input cost is also going up by the year. Efforts should be made to discourage farmers for the use of pesticides and to encourage them for the use of organic manure,” the Minister pointed out.

Rythu Bandu Samithi president Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Agriculture department secretary Raghunandan Rao and other senior officials were present. (Hydnow)

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