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Hans India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Farmers told to check their eligibility for Annadata Sukhibhava
Guntur: Directorof agriculture Dilli Rao said, financial assistance under the 'Annadata Sukhibhava' scheme will be extended to all the eligible farmers as per the Chief Minister's vision and ensuring none is left out. He urged the farmers to verify their eligibility and the agriculture department has launched multiple toll-free numbers and website links. In a statement on Sunday, he said the department is ensuring that information about these services reaches farmers through extensive outreach efforts by the field staff. He said the farmers can check their eligibility through the 'Know Your Status' feature on the official portal:annadata He said the lists of eligible farmers have been displayed on the 'notice boards of Rythu Seva Kendras for verification. Farmers can also call the toll-free number 155251 to know their status. Dilli Rao informed that as a part of administrative reforms to ensure transparency and ease of access, the government introduced 'Mana Mitra' WhatsApp Governance. He said, the farmers can send their Aadhaar number to 9552300009 on WhatsApp to get eligibility details. He said a grievance module has been made available on the Annadata Sukhibhava portal for farmers to register complaints. He said, at the village level, agricultural assistants at the Rythu Seva Kendras have access to the grievance registration system and if a farmer's name is missing in the eligible list, and they believe they are eligible, they can submit a formal complaint along with documents at the nearest RSK to be 'registered in the Grievance Module' The last date for submitting a grievance is July 23.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Collector urges responsible usage of fertilisers to save soil
Parvatipuram-Manyam District Collector A. Shyam Prasad on Tuesday asked farmers not to use fertilisers indiscriminately since it would spoil the soil, making it unfit for cultivation in the future. He distributed fertilisers to farmers at the Rythu Seva Kendram (RSK) of Kasappeta in Seethanagaram mandal on Tuesday and urged them to seek suggestions from agriculture officials and scientists to know the quantity of fertilisers required for application in the fields. He said that for the current kharif season, 10,384 tonnes of urea was available out of the targeted 11,327 tonnes. Farmers were advised to contact the district control room (Mobile No.:7989434766) to know the availability of fertilisers and seeds at their respective RSKs. The Collector informed that 5,985 tenant farmers in the district have received Crop Cultivators Rights Cards, and this would be extended to 11,000 tenant farmers. These cards would ensure farmers get benefits including crop loan, insurance and others. The District Agriculture Officer K. Robert Paul was also present.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Govt. urged to extend institutional support for farmer-bred paddy varieties through Raitha Samparka Kendras
The government has been urged to promote traditional paddy varieties bred by local farmers, through the Raitha Samparka Kendra (RSK) and provide them institutional support. Experts say traditional paddy varieties – some of which are bred by the farmers — deserve greater official backing through the RSKs which is not the case at present, though many of them are popular. 'There are farmers and individuals, many of them in Mysuru, H.D. Kote, and Periyapatna regions, who have been conserving traditional paddy varieties, and breeding new varieties since more than 20 years,' he said and pointed out that a majority of them are doing it out of passion, spending from their own pockets. ''The government must now step in to support and help scale up their work,' said Mr. Krishnaprasad, founder of Sahaja Samrudha which is advocating indigenous paddy conservation and promotion. In the Mysuru region itself there are scores of seed conservators and rice breeders Ghani Khan, Bore Gowda, Srinivas, etc., and — individual farmers whose paddy collections are highly sought after across States. Yet, these community-level efforts have received little institutional backing so far, said Mr. Krishnaprasad. Hence the government has been urged to release and promote farmer-bred indigenous varieties through RSKs - the agriculture extension centres — so that it ensure greater reach. On the State government's move to develop community seed banks for which ₹5 crore has been allotted, Mr. Krishnaprasad said it is imperative that seed conservators are roped in for the purpose. The success of the initiative would depend on involving those who have been quietly nurturing seed diversity for decades, he added. 'If the government is serious about promoting organic farming, it must also promote organic seeds. Traditional and desi varieties should be made accessible to farmers through official channels,' Mr. Krishnaprasad added. Experts say that community-managed seed systems are playing a critical role in maintaining agricultural biodiversity and offering climate-resilient options to farmers. But unless financially supported and institutionally recognised, these systems may not sustain themselves in the long-run. The issue was also discussed in multiple farmers related events including the 'Desi Seed Mela' held in Mysuru recently. There is a growing demand for inclusion of local groups, women's collectives, and farmer conservators who are already active, as partners in the initiative. Stakeholders have also outlined a multi-pronged approach to strengthen traditional seed systems and it includes strengthening community-managed seed systems to ensure access to diverse crop varieties; popularising traditional varieties among consumers and farmers through seed and food festivals, awareness campaigns, and educational materials; mapping and documenting indigenous varieties, including their nutritional profiling, through collaboration with research bodies and agricultural universities. But it has also been argued by the stakeholders that a formal recognition of traditional and indigenous paddy varieties, evolving protocols for notification and mainstreaming these in formal seed systems, are essential.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Insufficient supply of urea hits farmers
Devanakonda (Kurnool district): A shortage of urea in Devanakonda mandal has sparked distress among farmers, particularly with recent light rainfall and expanded cotton cultivation prompting increased demand for complex fertilisers. Private fertiliser shops are linking urea sales to bio-pesticides, preventing farmers from purchasing urea independently. As a result, many are flocking to the government-run Rythu Seva Kendra (RSK) in Devanakonda for supplies. On Wednesday, a truck delivering urea bags to the RSK triggered a rush of farmers from surrounding villages. The crisis has been exacerbated by the recent transfer of village-level Agricultural Assistants, disrupting fertiliser distribution to local RSKs. With no stock available in villages, farmers are forced to travel to mandal headquarters, overwhelming the central RSK. Farmers voiced frustration over the restriction of two urea bags per Aadhaar card, arguing it is insufficient for their cultivation needs. The limited supply and distribution challenges have heightened tensions, as farmers rely heavily on urea for their crops during this critical Agricultural Officer Usha Rani addressed the concerns, assuring farmers that urea and DAP supplies to village-level RSKs will resume after July 5. She urged calmness, emphasising that steps are being taken to streamline distribution across the mandal. Authorities are working to address the logistical issues caused by the staff transfers and ensure equitable access to fertilisers. The situation underscores the need for improved supply chain management to support farmers during peak agricultural seasons. For now, farmers are hopeful that the promised resumption of supplies will alleviate the shortage and enable them to meet their cultivation demands effectively.
Hans India
12-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
Soybean crop failure leaves Haveri farmers devastated
Haveri: Over 200 soybean farmers across several villages in Haveri district are staring at an agrarian crisis after seeds supplied by the Agriculture Department reportedly failed to germinate even 10 days after sowing. The affected farmers allege that poor-quality seeds distributed by the department's Raitha Samparka Kendra (RSK) are to blame for the disaster. In areas such as Karjagi, Konanathambagi and Devagiri, farmers sowed soybean seeds after the recent spell of good rainfall, investing heavily in land preparation, labor, fertilizer, and seed procurement. However, their hopes were dashed as the seeds failed to sprout, leaving vast tracts of farmland barren. 'Normally, soybean seeds germinate within 7 days. But even after 10 days, nothing has emerged. In some fields, just a few seeds have sprouted, while most have rotted underground,' lamented local farmers, expressing deep frustration. Mallikarjun Ballari, General Secretary of the District Farmers' Association, voiced strong criticism of the Agriculture Department: 'The government cannot get away by offering compensation only for the poor-quality seeds. They must reimburse the full cost — including labor and fertilizers. Simply replacing seeds is not enough,' he told ETV Bharat. Ballari also pointed out that despite adequate rainfall for sowing, the failure of germination has rendered farmers helpless. 'Our fields were in good condition. We did everything right. But the seeds failed us,' he a flood of complaints, agriculture officials have visited several affected fields to conduct inspections. They collected seed samples and have sent them to the Karnataka State Seeds Corporation and affiliated agricultural universities for analysis. Initial reports suggest that a particular batch — KDS 726 hybrid seed lot — distributed under the government scheme is under suspicion for germination failure. 'We've sent samples to the supplying company and the agricultural university for analysis. Only after receiving their report can we make a concrete decision,' an official said, adding that seed suppliers have been asked to consider compensation. With the monsoon setting in, farmers fear they may miss the critical sowing window. 'We don't have time for long investigations. We are not against verification, but we need immediate compensation or seed support to restart sowing this season,' farmers asserted. Some also voiced concern that the government is yet to recognize the scale of the problem. 'This is not an isolated case. It is spread across entire villages. If no urgent action is taken, it will severely affect the district's agricultural output,' a farmer from Karjagi warned. This episode has intensified scrutiny of the Agriculture Department's procurement and quality-check process for distributing seeds under government programs. Political and farmers' organizations are now demanding accountability from the seed supplier as well as from the authorities responsible for verifying seed viability. The failure comes at a time when farmers are already struggling with erratic rainfall and rising input costs. If corrective action and financial support are not provided soon, this could snowball into a larger agrarian protest. The district administration is yet to announce any official compensation package. However, with tensions rising and with the sowing window narrowing, a swift and farmer-friendly intervention is being widely demanded.
