Latest news with #Cheluvarayaswamy
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers should shift to green manure as Centre to slash urea supply by 50%: Cheluvarayaswamy
Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who reviewed the agricultural activity in the Mysuru Division on Friday, said that farmers will be weaned away from using urea and chemical fertilizers in a phased manner. Speaking to reporters at Naganahalli, the Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Centre will slash urea supply by 50% in the days ahead, and hence, the farmers should brace for the change. Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said this was inevitable to reduce the use of chemicals in fertilizers, and farmers will be encouraged to shift to green fertilizers. In reply to a question, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said that he recently visited a farm. and the farmer has stopped using chemicals for the last 10 years. But there has been no decline in crop output, he added. The Minister said that for decades, the farmers were advised to use chemicals and urea-based fertilizers, and they were quite used to the practice. So it may be difficult for them to make the shift suddenly. Farmers will be reoriented to eschew the use of chemical fertilizers, he added. Since scientific studies were proving the deleterious impact of the use of chemical fertilizers, it was essential to rollback their use and shift to green alternatives, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said, adding that the government was creating awareness drive among the farmers in this regard. 'The Centre's decision in slashing the urea supply by 50% is a welcome move, and it is essential to preserve soil fertility,' said the Minister. In the review meeting, the Minister cautioned officials against negligence and dereliction of duty during field visits or apathy in the implementation of government schemes. The officials were instructed to guide farmers on alternative crops based on prevailing climatic conditions, to prioritise mechanisation, to implement Krishi Bhagya scheme, and to organic farming etc. The Minister emphasised that research findings should benefit the farmers, and they should be impressed upon the benefits of value addition in agricultural produce.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Statewide sowing campaign launched at Chinchalli village
Mysuru: Agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy launched the statewide sowing campaign on Thursday at Chinchalli village in Hanur taluk in Chamarajanagar district. The event organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, and agriculture department aims to promote timely sowing and advanced farming practices. The campaign began with the symbolic sowing of ragi on the farmland of progressive farmer Dayanand. Minister for animal husbandry, sericulture, and Chamarajanagar district in-charge Minister K Venkatesh joined the ceremony, which also included a demonstration of drone-assisted pesticide spraying—a step toward precision farming. As part of the initiative, various agricultural implements were distributed to local farmers. Beneficiaries received equipment such as power tillers, rotavators, chaff cutters, power weeders, and oil extractors through the agriculture department. Speaking at the event, Cheluvarayaswamy emphasised the benefits of integrated farming, which he said can significantly boost farmers' income. "With just one acre, a farmer can earn up to Rs 10 lakh annually by combining vegetable cultivation, farm ponds, fishery, and livestock rearing," he said, citing real-life success stories. He urged farmers to gradually reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers due to their long-term health impacts and advocated for organic and natural farming practices. "The govt is committed to promoting sustainable agriculture through increased subsidies for micro-irrigation systems and organic inputs," he added. The minister also highlighted the importance of crop insurance, encouraging farmers to enrol under the scheme to protect themselves from crop losses due to climate variability and other risks. "Paying a small premium today can safeguard your future in times of adversity," he remarked. The Krishi Bhagya scheme, previously limited to select regions, has now been extended to all 224 taluks across the state. Cheluvarayaswamy encouraged farmers to leverage govt subsidies, adopt modern technologies, and follow the guidance of the agriculture department and universities. Venkatesh reiterated that while agriculture is a demanding profession, it can be highly rewarding with consistent effort. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of govt initiatives and modernise their farming methods to reduce labour costs and increase productivity. He also mentioned that the state cabinet recently convened in the district, where several key development schemes were approved, and will be implemented shortly. Hanur MLA MR Manjunath noted that the majority of Hanur's population relies on agriculture. He commended the growth in dairy farming and horticulture in the region, especially the cultivation of bananas, turmeric, and onions. He stressed the importance of ensuring adequate electricity and irrigation support to empower the farming community.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Sincere efforts afoot to address public grievances: Minister in-charge of Mandya district N. Cheluvarayaswamy
Minister in-charge of Mandya district N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Tuesday said that the district administration is making sincere efforts to resolve various public grievances in accordance with legal procedures. 'The State government's five guarantee schemes are being implemented in a non-partisan manner, without any discrimination based on caste or community. Benefits are being extended to all eligible citizens,' he said after inaugurating the Janaspandana (public interaction) programme held at K.R. Pet. Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy further said that public representatives have initiated several development works. He noted that the Mysugar factory is being revitalised, and a new agricultural university is also being set up in Mandya to boost the farming sector. 'More than 20,000 revenue-related cases have been resolved in the past two years. The State government is also working on simplifying rules related to e-Khata, e-Swathu, and B-Swathu to make services more accessible to the public,' the Minister added.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Agri minister encourages agri preparations for monsoon
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes messages , and quotes Mandya: As the monsoon has arrived in the district, preparations must be made to ensure that farmers do not face any issues with the availability of seeds, said agriculture minister N a meeting held at the ZP auditorium on Friday, Cheluvarayaswamy, who is also in charge of the district, said roads need to be repaired, and the officials officials concerned have been directed to take swift action in this regard. He said providing houses under Rajiv Gandhi Housing Scheme should be prioritised in cases of damage to emphasised that officials and staff must be available and respond promptly to the aggrieved people and farmers. "If not, action will be taken," he said, and called for raising awareness among farmers about using green manure as an alternative to DAP fertiliser to keep soil nutrients MLA Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda also suggested alternatives to DAP fertilisers and sought soil testing in certain villages at the hobli level so farmers can reap a rich Kumara provided details about the rainfall details in the district, crop damage, house and livestock loss, compensation paid, sowing seeds, fertilisers, and crop insurance. On the occasion, a poster related to crop insurance for the monsoon season was released.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Embrace tech for sustainable agriculture: Cheluvarayaswamy
Mandya: Change is the law of nature, and the traditional mindset that agriculture equates to hard labour, debt, and losses must be abandoned, said district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy. He emphasised that by embracing technology and modern agricultural machinery, farmers can achieve financial stability and sustainable growth. Speaking at the inauguration of a special technical workshop on sugarcane, paddy, and ragi cultivation—from sowing to marketing—at the Agricultural College, VC Farm in Mandya on Wednesday, the minister highlighted Mandya's strong agricultural roots. He noted that agricultural scientists and institutions are introducing innovative methods to boost productivity and profitability. "Growing the same crop continuously depletes soil nutrients and reduces yields," he warned. To combat this, he recommended a simple crop rotation strategy: divide a 3-acre plot into three sections, cultivate different crops in each, and rotate them annually. He acknowledged farmers' hesitation in adopting new techniques but suggested implementing them on a trial basis on a portion of their land. "Once they see the benefits, they can expand these practices to their entire holdings," he added. Cheluvarayaswamy also addressed the issue of marketing. "While crops like paddy and ragi take around six months to mature, marketing starts immediately after harvest—often directly from the fields," he said. He urged farmers to focus on value addition techniques to maximise their earnings. To tackle the labour shortage in agriculture, he announced that the govt has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for agricultural mechanisation . As part of this initiative, Rs 40 lakh subsidy is being offered for high-tech harvesting machines , benefiting around 350 farmers so far. In a significant development, a new agricultural university has been approved for Mandya, to be modelled after GKVK (University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru). Operations are expected to begin within three years. "Its impact and importance will become increasingly evident in the coming days," he stated. Joint director of agriculture Ashok shared insights into the district's key crops—sugarcane, ragi, and paddy. He noted that advanced techniques are being introduced to improve yields. For instance, farmers are using 'five-eye' and 'single-eye' sugarcane varieties for better productivity. Under the NREGA scheme, high-quality ragi suitable for export is now being cultivated on 2,000 hectares. To address labour shortages in paddy transplanting, workers are being sourced from outside the district, although some farmers have already started using mechanised transplanting methods. A special bi-monthly technical workshop is being organised to raise awareness and promote these modern practices among more farmers. Deputy commissioner Kumara, zilla panchayat CEO KR Nandini, SP Mallikarjun Baladandi, agricultural university special officer Harini Kumar, VC Farm dean Dr Fatima, agricultural scientists, and a large gathering of farmers were present.
