AGRICULTURE
SCENARIO OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
In the process of making the mission a reality, the department is adopting following strategies.
“Sustained and coordinated efforts” for facilitating a second green revolution and device strategies for optimum use of natural resources to create new avenues in Agriculture for livelihood and strengthen the rural areas. Government site-specific system to ensure that at least a part of the fallow lands are brought under cultivation by increasing irrigation sources. New seed technology and post harvest technology are needed to be addressed’’
Involvement of marginal and small farmers in crop diversification and food security are the important aspects to be addressed in accelerating crop diversification in the State.
Credit provides necessary liquidity and insurance provides command over resource to the farming community.
Provision of banking facilities in un-banked and under banked areas, financial inclusion, SHG bank-linkage programme, financing rural godowns and agricultural Infrastructure are the thrust areas.
- Re-engineering extension approach for effective extension reach
- Empowering the farmer with advance agricultural practices
- Capacity enhancement of Departmental Staff for an efficient extension of technology.
- Ensuring timely input supply.
- Regulation of inputs and quality control.
- Soil test based fertilizer recommendation
- Promotion of self- reliance in seed production among farmers.
- Promotion of Integrated Crop Management through INM, IPM, efficient water management, etc.
- Promotion of organic farming to meet the demand of World Market.
- Correcting Micronutrient Zinc deficiency
- Reclamation of Problematic soils to restore the productivity
- Natural Resource Management through watershed approach for agricultural land development and environmental stability
- Calamity Management in the event of drought, floods, hailstorms etc.
- Promoting cultivation of low risk and low cost intensive crops
- Farm Mechanization for item and cost effective farming practices.
- Promoting Farmers Organization (Rythu Mithra Groups) for technical and monitory benefits in Agriculture and allied activities.
- Facilitate the farmer to avail Agriculture Credit
- Women Empowerment and gender balance.
- Provide day-to-day information to farmer on crop production, input supply, and marketing through Internet Services.
Infrastructure:
The Departments has a strong chain of human resources consisting of more than 400 extension staff of field and supervisory cadre. The staff is periodically oriented with the advance technology emerging from time to time by re-engineering through trainings, workshops, interactions etc., in addition, the department supports a number of Farmers Training Centers, Soil Testing Laboratories, Seed Testing Lab etc., to equip the farmer with necessary technology and knowledge for successful agriculture.
Allied Departments:
The research support to the Department is endowed by the State Agriculture University and the National and International Institutes. The input support is solicited through various autonomous bodies like APSSDC, APAIDC, APMARKFED, APOILFED, HACA etc., The other eco-coordinating Departments are Horticulture, Sericulture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Irrigation, Forests, Rain Shadow Area Development and Power.
Financial support is rendered by NABARD and other Banks, not only to land owning farmers but also to tenant farmers.