Latest news with #AcharyaNGRangaAgriculturalUniversity
Time of India
5 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.
Scroll.in
29-06-2025
- Climate
- Scroll.in
Andhra Pradesh: Mango farmers battle erratic weather, crop pests
An earlier onset of the summer, erratic rainfall, and pests that thrive due to the changing climate are impacting mango farmers' yields in Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh, farmers say and data show. First, the February heat resulted in flowers falling off early in B Vasudeva Reddy's mango farm in Abbireddivuru village in Chittoor district. Then, in April, black thrips attacked his crop, and he sprayed pesticides and other 'medicines' indiscriminately, on the advice of shop owners, in an attempt to control the pests and help flowering. He invested Rs 4 lakh in his mango crop this season, but is expecting just 20% of the crop, he told us in April. D Madhusudan Reddy, deputy director of horticulture for Chittoor district, said that the mango yield in Chittoor varies a lot year to year. For instance, the totapuri variety, that grows over 100,000 acres in Chittoor has had yields ranging from 2.4 to 6 tonnes per acre over five years. 'The average yield in the district is four tonnes per acre; this year it is five tonnes so we can say it is above average,' said Reddy, adding that rains which occurred in May led to an increase in the size of the fruit in the district, thus covering up for some of the loss of flowering. This is an estimate of the horticultural department, based on random crop-cutting experiments in the field. Farmers have complained of lower-than-usual yields, but the actual figures will only be known at the end of the season. Climate change in Chittoor Instead of the usual March temperatures of 35-36 degrees celsius, temperatures were 37-38 degrees celsius, touching 40 degrees celsius on two days, said Prathima Thottambeti, the Principal Scientist at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University. Warmer temperatures mean flowers fall off earlier than they should from the mango trees. Farmer G Chinna Reddappa, 60, is worried as his six-acre mango garden is expected to yield only 25% of the normal 20-25 tonnes of fruit this year. 'I may have to borrow another Rs 1 lakh to keep my son doing Pharma D [a doctoral programme] in college,' said the farmer from Puttavaripalli village. Reddappa shifted to mango cultivation as part of a special drive by the administration to give impetus to horticulture in Rayalaseema, a perennially drought-prone rain shadow region. 'The Scheduled Caste corporation [which is aiding him] gave us the table variety fruit benisha [kind of mango] plants for free. This variety of trees which could have fetched me Rs 30,000 per tonne normally is not going to give good yield as its flowering has dropped off more compared to say, totapuri.' Reddappa is not alone. His fellow villager Bandi Chandra has a one-acre mango garden, but wants to give his farm up for two years, on a lease for Rs 1 lakh, to fund his daughter's college education, but he has no takers. Farmers say that though totapuri has survived the vagaries of climate better than benisha, its selling price is often lower than benisha, and its rate depends on the whims and fancies of the pulp factory owners' association, the main consumer of totapuri. Some farmers are grafting table varieties with totapuri, and this has survived the heat better. Others have replaced mango with other crops. M Janardhan Reddy, a farmer with a 10-acre garden in Madithativaripalle village, has cut benisha over an area of three acres and replaced it with coconut. 'I have not been able to earn even the pesticide cost on these trees for three years now. My income has been just Rs 2.5 lakh for the past three years now compared to a normal of Rs 7 lakh over the years.' Other farmers say they are thinking of moving to groundnut, paddy or sugarcane, which were widely cultivated earlier in the district, says P Haemadri Reddy, a farmer from Puttavaripalli village. His wife says the perpetual low income that farmers make have dissuaded younger generations from farming. 'No wonder there is no farmer who is less than 50 years old in the village,' she said. In some ways, Chittoor is better off than other districts, when it comes to rising temperatures. 'While climate change is showing impact on global environment, the conversion of paddy and groundnut fields into mango gardens have reduced the intensity of heat impact in the Chittoor region,' said a senior scientist from the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory at Gadanki, (NARL) who did not wish to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. According to him, the average change in temperature over the Chittoor region since 1940 is 0.4 degrees celsius, lower than other areas in the state. 'However,' he added, 'recent increase in maximum temperatures and reduction in range of diurnal variation of temperatures [the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature] and increase in frequency of heat waves is a concern for the mango crop. There is an urgent need for action to mitigate these changes.' D Srinivasa Reddy, a senior scientist at the Citrus Research Station at Dr YSR Horticulture University in Tirupati, says that for flowering to happen in December, the difference in day and night temperatures should be 15 to 18 degrees. The higher the difference, the better the chances of flowering. But, he said 'such conditions did not prevail until late January and February'. This resulted in heavy flowering, but the early heat in February and March also led to early loss of flowers, he said. G Obuleshwar Reddy (44), a farmer from Puttavaripalli, said he had expected a bumper crop with the abundant flowering. Now, 'we have just 25% of the crop compared to last year. In the previous year by now fruit had ripened. The entire crop cycle has been delayed by a month.' He grows varieties including benisha, imampasand, pullura and kadhar (alphonso). Apart from heat, an erratic north east monsoon is affecting the crop. For the mango crop, ideal rainfall is about 2.5 mm per rainy day, which should be spread over the monsoon season. But 'rainfall is not uniform anymore and the region is getting even 10 mm rain on a single day leading to wetness in the soil for a longer period. Being a climate-sensitive crop this affects flowering in mango,' the scientist Reddy said. 'For flowering to be initiated, it should not rain between October 15 and December 1. But as the weather was cloudy in November and December, day temperatures fell leading to delay in flowering,' said Madhusudan Reddy, deputy director of horticulture for Chittoor district. There were rains that followed in December, twice in January and then no rain in March and April, followed by 20 mm rain in May, said T Prathima on the erratic nature of rainfall. More pests Scientists say that with the change in weather patterns, new pests are affecting crops. 'Earlier we used to have only two pests – hopper and fruit fly – affecting the mango crop, along with fungus like powdery mildew and anthracnose. But now Litchi Looper, Brazilian Shoot Caterpillar and fruit borer have hit the crop,' said Reddy, the scientist. Varieties like benisha are usually more at danger from pests, but late flowering of the totapuri made it more susceptible to pests this year. Usually black thrips attack chilli, and as the cost for chilli is low this year, farmers did not take much effort to contain the pest, worsening its impact in the mango flowering season. Spraying of chemicals to stave off these pests adds to pesticide residue in the mango pulp, increasing the chances of the produce being rejected by overseas buyers, said Reddy, the scientist. Pesticides should particularly not be used over flowers, he said. Scientists say pesticides like Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam have been used for the past 25 years and insects have developed resistance to them. Farmers in Andhra Pradesh have also used a combination – chlorpyrifos (an organophosphate) plus cypermethrin (a synthetic pyrethroid) – the use of which is restricted in many countries, because it is harmful for the environment as well as to humans. Dasaradha Rami Reddy, deputy director of horticulture of Tirupati district, said that farmers were spraying synthetic pyrethroids, which impact nervous system functioning, despite the department advising against these. 'A policy decision on their usage by the state government is needed as pesticide usage is a state subject,' Rami Reddy added. Government support To protect farmers from the vagaries of the weather, the Union government launched a crop insurance scheme in 2016 the compensation for which will be paid if the wind velocity, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall as recorded at the weather stations are beyond prescribed norms. It also covers damage by pests and diseases. In Andhra Pradesh, the scheme for mangoes was rolled out in 2024, with a premium of Rs 1,700 per acre and the maximum sum assured of Rs 35,000 per acre. For mango farmers, the scheme will be in force between December and May, Reddy of the horticulture department said. We have written to the higher authorities recommending payment of compensation, Reddy said. In addition, he said, 'we are seeking extension of the period of the scheme until the end of July to cover for the change in crop cycle as we get rains in June and July that could cause damage to the crop. Plucking of the fruit happens here until the end of July'. This change could be accepted for the next crop year, he said. Farmers like B Vasudeva Reddy say the officials should hold local meetings to raise awareness on insurance for farmers, as well as on the dangers of pesticides, as many farmers do not know about these. Horticulture department officials say that they have fixed Rs 12 per kg as the price for the totapuri mangoes, for pulp units, the major buyers of mangoes in Chittoor. But mango, as per the government, does not have a mandatory Minimum Support Price, such as paddy, or even a Fair and Remunerative Price, such as sugarcane, so companies are not obligated to buy at a certain rate. Meanwhile, the district horticulture officials say that of the Rs 12 prescribed, while the companies pay Rs 8, the state government will reimburse the remaining Rs 4 to the farmers. 'To stop the pulp companies from purchasing mangoes from outside the district, officials inform that restrictions will be placed on bringing the fruit from outside the state. The stock has to be procured from only the erstwhile Chittoor district and produce from even from other coastal districts will not be allowed,' said Reddy of the Chittoor horticulture department. About 90% of totapuri fruit in the district is consumed by the pulp industry and on average 65%-75% of the total pulp is exported, Reddy of the horticulture department said, adding that processing units purchase nearly 550,000-650,000 metric tonnes of fruit every year. Thus, the sustenance of the mango crop depends on the viability of the Rs 1,500-crore pulp industry, especially for the totapuri variety, said K. Govardhan Bobby, secretary of the Chittoor District Fruit Processors Federation. But the industry is not doing very well, with nearly 150,000 tonnes of pulp remaining in godowns of which some is from the 2023 season, and will expire by June and July 2025, Bobby said. He added that district officials had called them for a meeting and asked that they pay a good price for mangoes. 'We told them we will try to give a better price. The fruit is still maturing. While table varieties yield has reduced, the totapuri fruit is good.' Traders also say they don't know the quantity they will buy this year, as there is uncertainty in the industry. 'Only 40% of the crop is there. We will earn a few bucks only if the rates are good. This year traders are risk averse and are not ready to invest,' said Abdul Munaf, 68. NR Ehsanulla, president of Damalacheruvu Mango Mandi Traders association (one of the biggest market yards) in Tirupati district, said, 'Market is down and factories have not opened yet…It's been a month since the market opened but only a few varieties are arriving.' Mangati Gopal Reddy from the Federation of Farmers Associations says the industry is exaggerating claims of leftover pulp to be able to negotiate lower prices for this year's mango crop. Bobby said that exports of the fruit were disturbed due to the Russia-Ukraine war which created problems along the Red Sea route, and alternative routes doubled the cost. 'Add to this the juice industry which has reduced the usage of pulp from 18% to 9%. The demand thus fell by half by just this measure.' The National Dairy Development Board which exports pulp cancelled the contract with us and struck a deal with our counterparts in Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, Bobby said. He said they have requested for a National Board for Mango, such as one for rubber and turmeric, to take care of the problems of the industry, but no such board has been formed.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Agricultural education aligned with NEP 2020: Associate Dean
Tirupati: Associate Dean of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University Dr MV Ramana said that in alignment with the transformations occurring in the Indian agricultural sector and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has introduced a revised syllabus aimed at enhancing practical knowledge and creativity among agricultural students. Speaking at the 64th anniversary celebrations of Sri Venkateswara Agricultural College on Monday, Dr Ramana said that the new curriculum is designed to better align agricultural education with the needs of the sector and agri-based industries. He noted that the college has played a vital role in developing skilled human resources for the agricultural sector. 'Till now, this institution has produced 5,144 BSc Agriculture graduates, 1,744 postgraduates, and 240 research scholars who are currently serving in significant roles across government and private sectors, contributing substantially to the progress of Indian agriculture,' he said. Vice Chancellor of SV Vedic University Prof Rani Sadasiva Murthy, who was the chief guest for the event, encouraged students to adapt to the changing dynamics in agriculture. He highlighted the importance of self-employment opportunities and urged students to focus on innovation and problem-solving to address emerging challenges in the field. Dean of Agriculture Dr Ch Srinivasa Rao explained that major changes have been made to the teaching methodology and skill development courses have been introduced with a strong emphasis on practical learning. The inauguration ceremony also saw the participation of Dr V Sumathi, Associate Director of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Dr Jagapati Ramayya from the Veterinary College, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff, and students of the college.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Rayalaseema region highly vulnerable to droughts, says report
VISAKHAPATNAM: A comprehensive study conducted by scientists from the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, has identified the most vulnerable districts in Andhra Pradesh for droughts and cyclones. The analysis is based on 22 years of data (2002–2024). Scientists P V Ramesh Babu, B Sahadeva Reddy, P Radhika, Ch Sreenivas, and T Srinivas presented the findings in a research paper titled 'Drought and Cyclone Vulnerability Districts of Andhra Pradesh' during the International Conference on Rainfed Agriculture hosted by ICAR-CRIDA in Hyderabad. The study reveals that the Rayalaseema region remains highly susceptible to drought. Ananthapur district ranked highest in terms of drought vulnerability with an index value of 1.0, indicating extreme sensitivity to rainfall deficits. Chittoor (0.96), Kadapa (0.71), Prakasam (0.70), and Kurnool (0.67) also fall into the high-vulnerability category. Of the 22 kharif seasons, Ananthapur, Chittoor, and Kadapa experienced drought in 17 years, while Kurnool reported 16 drought years and Prakasam 14. Other affected districts included Nellore (12 years), Vizianagaram (11 years), Srikakulam (10 years), and Guntur (10 years). Coastal districts such as Visakhapatnam (7 years) and the East and West Godavari districts (6 years each) reported comparatively fewer drought years during this period. Rabi season droughts were significantly fewer across the state. However, Ananthapur district still reported nine drought years during rabi seasons. Prakasam (5 years), Kadapa and Kurnool (3 years each) also faced notable drought occurrences.
New Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Agri research must benefit farmers on field: Andhra Minister Lavu
GUNTUR: Stressing the importance of taking innovations from lab to land, Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu on Wednesday emphasised that agricultural research must directly benefit farmers by reducing input costs and combating crop diseases. He paid floral tributes to the statue of Acharya NG Ranga and recalled his pioneering contributions to Indian agriculture and rural development. Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) campus in Guntur, he lauded the university's distinguished history, strong infrastructure, and dedicated scientific community. 'Institutions like ANGRAU should strive to make their research accessible and practical. The technologies and findings developed here must empower farmers on the ground,' he said, adding that scalable, pest-resistant solutions are critical for large-scale implementation.
