Latest news with #ANGRAU
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Governor Abdul Nazeer highlights AP's robust 8.8% agriculture growth amid rising food demand
Vijayawada: Mentioning that Andhra Pradesh was a leading performer with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.8% in the agriculture and allied sectors during the year 2024-25, Andhra Pradesh governor S Abdul Nazeer noted that it is essential to take care of nutritional security and food safety while producing more food for our growing population. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The AP governor, who is also the chancellor of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), took part in the 57th university convocation ceremony held at Swarna Bharath Trust at Atkur in Krishna district on Thursday. Addressing the students at the convocation, Abdul Nazeer said that in 2024, India achieved a record food grain production of 353.95 million tonnes, which is a 6.5% increase compared to the previous year. This surge in agricultural production was driven by bumper harvests of key crops like wheat, rice, and maize. Supportive government policies and agricultural schemes were also cited as contributing factors for this achievement. "Our country's population is likely to cross 1.6 billion, and food demand is expected to rise to approximately 400 million tonnes by the year 2050, necessitating the need to produce even more to meet this demand," the Governor noted. Stating that the agricultural sector also provides livelihood support to about 46.1% of the country's population, Abdul Nazeer said that according to the Economic Survey 2025, the agricultural sector is seeing a growth rate of about 3.8% in the financial year 2025. However, an agricultural growth rate of 4% per annum is necessary not only to meet the demand for food, feed, and fodder but also to sustain a GDP growth rate of 8-9%, reduce poverty, and support the overall economic growth of the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On the occasion, the university presented the Dr M V Reddy National Award 2024 to ICAR (New Delhi) Commercial Crops ADG Dr Prashant K Dash and the V Ramachandra Rao National Award 2024 to ANGRAU research director Dr P V Satyanarayana for their best research works in the agriculture field. A total of 46 PhDs, 196 postgraduates, and 1,420 graduate degrees were awarded to the students at the convocation.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
A.P. Governor advocates cultivation of oilseeds, pulses to check malnutrition in country
Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer has appealed to farmers to focus more on cultivating pulses and oilseeds, thereby reducing their imports and contributing to the nutritional security of the country. Participating in the 57th Convocation of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), at Atkur village in Krishna district on Thursday (July 24, 2025), the Governor pointed out that Andhra Pradesh was a leading performer with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.8% in agriculture and allied sectors during the 2024-25 fiscal year. India has achieved a record food grain production of 353.95 million tonnes in 2024, and the country's agricultural commodities are reaching several countries across the globe, he said. He stressed the need for maintaining nutritional security and food safety, while increasing the production of food grains. Former Special Chief Secretary to Government of Punjab, A. Venu Prasad, who was the chief guest for the programme and an alumnus of ANGRAU, Bapatla, said the institute helped him achieving to greater heights in career. 'ANGRAU, located at Lam in Guntur district, is competing with top institutes in the country. Students should select the courses of their choice and excel in the field,' Mr. Venu Prasad said. Later, the Governor and the chief guest awarded degrees and awards to the meritorious students and the staff. ANGRAU Vice-Chancellor R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi said that established in 1964, the university had so far awarded degrees to 48,352 students, including 36,664 undergraduates, 11,688 post graduates and researchers. 'The university has released 25 new varieties of crops during 2023-24 fiscal year, of which nine were at the State level and 16 at the national level,' Ms. Jayalakshmi Devi said. Kaikalur MLA Kamineni Srinivas, Krishna district in-charge Collector Geetanjali Sharma, ANGRAU Registrar G. Ramachandra Rao were among the dignitaries who participated in the programme.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Governor to attend ANGRAU's 57th convocation on July 24
Governor S. Abdul Nazeer will attend the 57th Annual Convocation of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) at Atkur village in Unguturu mandal of Krishna district on July 24 (Thursday). Mr. Abdul Nazeer, who is also the Chancellor of the university, will present gold medals and awards to meritorious students and faculty members, and deliver the convocation address. University Vice-Chancellor R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi, Registrar G. Ramachandra Rao, and other faculty and staff will participate in the event. In preparation for the Governor's visit, Krishna district in-charge Collector Geetanjali Sharma, Additional Superintendent of Police Satyanarayana, and other officials inspected the venue and reviewed the arrangements, officials said in a release.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
ANGRAU invites applications for online agriculture certificate courses
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Lam, Guntur, has opened admissions for its online certificate courses in agriculture, scheduled to begin in July 2025. The eight-week courses — Organic Farming, Terrace Gardening, and Mushroom Cultivation — are designed to benefit small and marginal farmers, youth, and women, according to a press release issued by Registrar G. Ramachandra Rao on Friday. Offered through the University's Distance Education Centre, each course is priced at ₹1,500. Applicants must register by July 15, 2025, and should have access to a computer or Android device. The initiative aims to boost technical knowledge, promote skill development, and support self-employment. For more information, visit or contact: 9063219959, 8309626619, or 8096085560.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NIRCA's vision for turmeric-based rural livelihoods in Andhra
Representative image RAJAHMUNDRY: India's turmeric cultivation for the 2023–24 season spanned 3.05 lakh hectares with an annual production of 10.54 lakh tonnes, yielding a productivity of 3,656 kg per hectare (ANGRAU- Crop Outlook, 2023–24). In Andhra Pradesh , turmeric cultivation played a vital role in the livelihoods of many small and marginal farmers, especially in districts like ASR, Krishna, YSR, Bapatla, Guntur, etc. In AP, turmeric was grown on 22.37 thousand hectares with an annual production of 38.03 thousand tonnes, and a productivity of 1.7 MT/ha during 2023–24. Reports said that production during 2023–24 was 11.05 thousand hectares less compared to 2022–23 (33.42 thousand hectares). According to Dr M Seshu Madhav, Director, ICAR–NIRCA, Rajahmundry, turmeric cultivated in the major turmeric-growing area of AP, i.e., Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district - a tribal region - was recognized for its exceptional quality, with curcumin levels ranging from 5.8–6 and a distinctive, pleasant fragrance, as the crop thrived well in cooler climates. In ASR district, farmers continued to cultivate traditional turmeric varieties which, despite their rich aroma and high curcumin content, typically produced lower yields compared to improved varieties. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Seed availability was mostly limited to exchanges among farmers, restricting access to superior planting material. As per conventional practice, turmeric was often grown as a two-year crop. In this direction, the institute planned a few key steps to support turmeric farmers and enhance crop performance. These included supporting value addition and improving marketability. The institute aimed to conduct post-harvest processing training for turmeric farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). This training would focus on key aspects such as proper harvesting techniques, curing, drying methods, polishing, and storage practices to preserve curcumin content and aroma. Emphasis was to be placed on hygienic handling, the use of improved processing equipment, and techniques to reduce post-harvest losses. By equipping farmers with knowledge of best post-harvest practices, the institute aimed to enhance product quality, fetch better prices in the market, and open opportunities for branding and export. The region was predominantly known for its organic or natural farming practices in turmeric cultivation. At present, both individual farmers and FPOs collected and sold raw turmeric produce without any form of certification, which limited their ability to access premium markets or negotiate better prices. To address this gap, the institute planned to introduce a certification system that included scientific analysis of turmeric quality — such as curcumin content, aroma, and purity. By providing certified quality assurance by the institute or obtaining third-party organic certification, the institute aimed to build trust with buyers and enable farmers and FPOs to bargain more effectively in the market, potentially accessing higher-value segments including exports, organic, and pharmaceutical markets. This initiative was expected to enhance transparency and credibility and add value to the traditional turmeric cultivated in the region. A few FPOs in the region were already equipped with post-harvest processing machinery and retail outlets, enabling them to carry out basic value addition. However, these efforts often fell short of reaching larger markets due to limited marketing networks and lack of direct access to bulk buyers. To bridge this gap, the institute actively supported these FPOs by facilitating market linkages with major buyers, including spice companies, exporters, and retail chains. The institute already operated NIRCA'S NEST, an established outlet that showcased and sold value-added products — the major among them being turmeric-based items. Building on this outlet, the institute planned to directly procure turmeric produce from farmers and FPOs to develop a wider range of value-added products such as turmeric powder, capsules, soaps, and wellness products. This initiative aimed to ensure that farmers received fair prices and promoted the unique qualities of turmeric grown in the region, especially its high curcumin content and natural cultivation practices. Through branding, packaging, and strategic marketing under the NIRCA'S NEST label, the institute aimed to create strong regional identity and demand for local turmeric in both domestic and international markets. The institute was also diligently exploring the acquisition of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the indigenous turmeric landraces cultivated in the region. This initiative stemmed from the recognition of the exceptional qualities of these local varieties, which were deeply rooted in the region's unique agro-climatic conditions, organic farming methods, and long-standing cultural practices. The GI tag would serve as a formal acknowledgment of the distinctiveness and authenticity of these landraces, protect the farmers from commercial exploitation, ensure fair market value, and promote regional identity on both national and international levels.
