Tribals need knowledge of new farm techniques: ITDA PO

Rampachodavaram: Scientists should create awareness on modern cultivation methods and agriculture technology among tribal farmers who are depending on agriculture and allied sectors, ITDA project officer C Naga Rani said on Friday. She was speaking at a 'Kisan Mela' organised under the aegis of the Agriculture Department and ATMA here. Farmers from three mandals of Rampachodavaram sub-division participated. She, along with Rampachodavaram Sub-Collector Gandham Chandrudu, witnessed the stalls set up on unconventional crops, farm mechanisation systems, organic agriculture, dairy, fruits, vegetables, flowers and perfumes. Ms Naga Rani suggested to the scientists to make efforts to improve the financial position of tribal farmers by providing emerging technologies in five sectors affiliated to agriculture in Atma, including agriculture, fisheries, horticulture and animal husbandry. She said people in the plains were consuming conventional food grains like millets and maize in order to get nutritious food and proteins and called upon the tribal farmers to take up conventional food grains like millets and maize. These food grains would provide more proteins than rice, she said and suggested to the farmers to take steps to cultivate them. The ITDA project officer said all steps have been taken to cultivate millets in the Agency area and an action plan has been formulated to cultivate millets in 10,000 acres this year. She said these products should be sold through Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC) without the involvement of brokers at Rs 20 a kg after catering to domestic needs. This system would help in increasing the nutrition quotient of the students in tribal residential schools after catering to the needs of tribals. She also underscored the need for cultivation of maize in the Agency area.