CM wants farmers to go in for ID crops over paddy

Hyderabad, Oct 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today urged all District Collectors to explain to farmers the advantages of Irrigated Dry crops over Paddy under wells or borewells in terms of saving on water and better return.

During the 'Jana Chaitnaya' programme to be held upto November 5, Mr Reddy wanted the Collectors to impress upon the farmers the power situation. Farmers should complete irrigation by March end as power shortage was likely in April due to inadequate hydel generation and gas supply.

In an open letter to the Collectors, Dr Reddy wanted them to inform the farmers about the incentives, including 50 per cent subsidy on ID crops seed supply, construction of Farm ponds under Employment Guarantee Programme, Prioritisation of supply of Sprinkler set to farmers who diversify from Paddy to ID crops for better water use and additional bonus over and above the Maximum Sale Price (MSP) to the farmers who grow pulses.

If paddy cultivation was inevitable under wells and borewells, the farmers should be motivated to go for ''SRI'' technology, for which Cono-weeders and markers will be supplied to them at 75 per cent subsidy, he added.

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