CM reaffirms support to farmers

Urges cultivators to enhance their knowledge of modern methods S Says Pattiseema will help Rayalaseema

Palamaner (Chittoor district): Reiterating his government’s support to farmers, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told the farmers that he will be with them to make agriculture viable. Interacting with farmers at Bommiddi village in Palamaner mandal after kickstarting field demonstration in a field of a farmer Babu to mark the inauguration of Polam Pilusthondi programme in the district on Friday, Naidu wanted the farmers to enhance their knowledge on various aspects of agriculture including utilisation of micro nutrients, management of crops, etc. to increase yield.

“On our part, we will provide all the support like supply of seeds, micro nutrients, free soil test, tips on crop management including pest control, etc. through SMS on mobiles,’’ he said. A farmer Lakshmipathi expressed his satisfaction over the government measures to boost agriculture while another farmer Jagannatha Reddy said that the removal of restriction on taking the soil from the tank to deposit in their fields during the desiltation of tanks was helping them to improve fertility.

In Kanikallu village, Naidu tried his hand on proclaim in desilting the village tank under Neeru-Chettu programme. The farmers in the village said that desilting is benefitting them in two ways, increasing the storage capacity of the tank and also utilising the removed soil for enriching their field. He said the launching of Mi-Bhumi portal will soon end the problem of getting certificates and validation of passbooks, etc. to the farmers.

Speaking on the occasion, The CM said that as the completion of Polavaram project will take 4 or 5 years, the government took up Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme as an interim arrangement to take the waters to Krishna delta and also prevent Godvari river water going waste into the sea. This was to utilise additional 80 TMC ft of Krishna water for irrigation and drinking water needs of Rayalaseema, he added.

In this connection, the Chief Minister said due to severe drinking water shortage the government was forced to provide drinking water through tankers to 2,500 villages in Chittoor district and added that diversion of Krishna water to Rayalseema will end the problem on a permanent basis. He declared that the government had determined to provide water through Handri-Niva project to Kuppam, Madanapalli and Punganur areas this year.

An SHG women leader Santhamma thanked the CM for providing capital infusion fund to the groups. Naidu said efforts were on to provide training for skill development of SHG women to take of ventures for self-employment. Before winding up his whirlwind visit to the area, the Chief Minister participated in Badi Pilusthondi’ programme held at government school in the town where he performed aksharabyasam to children.

Addressing the gathering, he reaffirmed his government’s resolve to develop Chittoor district as an educational hub. Expressing his anguish on the poor performance of the district in SSC in which the district came last in the State, he wanted the school teachers to make an honest introspection on their performance. He said government is ready to provide all support including technology and sought them to strive their best to see the district come first this time.

A Bengaluru-based businessman Ramamurthy, a native of Palamaner, gave Rs 1 crore as donation to CM to start Government Junior College For Girls in the town. The CM said that the government would add Rs 1 crore as its contribution to set up the college soon in the town. Chittoor MP N SivaPrasad, MLAs and others were present.