Poly crop models in 49 EG mandals

​Pithapuram East Godavari: Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) project director Padmaja and her deputy Anjali have said mixed crops in 49 mandals of the district will be raised leading to cultivation of poly crops.

Addressing media after participating in a seminar on organic cultivation here on Wednesday, they said various schemes were implemented spending Rs 33 lakh last year to benefit farmers. This year, a proposal has been sent to government to implement schemes to benefit 7500 farmers at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore.

The government has been promoting polycrop model to derive more yield from limited space, they said adding that farm plots have been identified to implement this model in 49 mandals. Each farmer will get an incentive ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 from the ATMA for each farm plot.

In these farms, paddy cultivation, fish rearing and horticulture crops will be raised simultaneously in areas of assured irrigation facility, they said adding that this model will be encouraged even in dry land areas. It enables farmers to reap revenue from multiple crops simultaneously, they said.

Food grains needed by a family are being produced implementing Subash Palekar’s polycrop model known as (36x36 scheme) in Korukonda mandal, she said.

The project director said that the method was implemented successfully on an experimental basis in Ramachandrapuram and Rangampeta mandals, she said adding that Agency farmers of Rampachodavarma, Devipattanam, Maredumilli and Y Ramavaram mandals would be given seeds of millet crops upon getting the Agency lands surveyed by civil society organisations. A plan to cultivate millet crops in 1000 acres in 10 villages has been kept ready.

Moreover, the government will take the responsibility of processing the harvested millet crops and their marketing, she said.
The state government will give permission to set up mini-processing units and the units to manufacture biscuits, soup, bakery products using the millets.

Farmers’ Training Center deputy director Bosebabu, additional director Prasad, ATMA deputy project manager YV Subba Rao, agriculture assistant director Padmasri and Agriculture Officers Satyanarayana and Jayaramalakshmi were present.