Naidu disburses Rs 3,125 crore to farmers under PM Kisan scheme
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu released Rs 3,125 crore into the accounts of farmers across Andhra Pradesh under the PM Kisan–Annadata Sukhibhava scheme at Linganguntla in Palnadu district on Saturday. An amount of Rs 7,000 has been deposited into each farmer's account, comprising Rs 5,000 from the state government and Rs 2,000 from the Union government as the first instalment.
Government support from seed to market
Addressing a gathering at Linganguntla, Naidu said the government is supporting farmers from seed supply to marketing, and payments for procured produce are being made within 48 hours. He noted that farmers receive advisories through SMS and support through the e-crop system. The state is promoting natural farming to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and to improve soil health.
Concerns over export rejections due to chemical residues
Naidu expressed concerns over the rejection of export consignments due to chemical residues and stressed the need to maintain quality standards. He appealed to farmers to switch to natural farming, adding that the government is ready to encourage it beyond 20 lakh acres.
Promotion of horticulture, aquaculture, and oil palm
“The government has been promoting horticulture, aquaculture and oil palm cultivation, and has reduced feed cost for aquaculture farmers. Procurement support has been extended to crops, including Totapuri mango and Burley tobacco, and minimum purchase price directions have been issued,” the CM said. He added that improved water availability would support agriculture in regions like Palnadu and help strengthen the rural economy.
Irrigation projects to be completed by 2027
Naidu vowed to complete 36 irrigation projects, including Polavaram, by the end of 2027. He said the state aims to increase green cover from 31% to 50% and is establishing waste-to-energy plants, with eight such facilities planned. He also referred to steps taken to promote cleanliness, repair roads, and deliver services through digital platforms, including WhatsApp governance.
Visit to Anganwadi and natural farming field
Earlier, Naidu visited an Anganwadi centre being run under the ‘net zero’ method. He interacted with children and served and tasted Ragi malt with them. He also visited the natural farming field of Gudipalli Nagabhushanam and purchased groundnut oil extracted through conventional methods.
