Telangana to give boost to fruits, vegetables farming

Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy opens horticulture expo on Necklace Road; urges people to cultivate their own produce

Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy exhorted people to use fresh food items to keep themselves healthy.He was launching a five-day Telangana Udyana Mahotsavam-2017 at the People’s Plaza on Necklace Road, exhibiting fresh fruits and vegetables from various districts of the State, on Sunday. Agriculture Secretary Partha Sarathi and other Horticulture Department officials were also present.

Speaking to media persons, Srinivas Reddy said the expo showcased fresh fruits and vegetables brought in from various places of Telangana.

The Minister stressed the need to use organic fertilisers rather than chemical fertilisers for better produce, adding that the Horticulture Department had brought in new methods of technology for production of vegetables and fruits. Since farmers could reap in more benefits through horticulture, the government was encouraging them with subsidies, he said. “We should produce more quantities of fruits and vegetables to export to other States besides domestic purpose,” the Minister remarked. The five-day expo will conclude on August 31.

“People should produce vegetables using organic fertilisers at their homes and get them fresh for consumption to keep yourselves healthy,” the Minister said. Village coordination meetings will be conducted by resource persons from September 10 to 14 by setting up 10,800 revenue villages as 3,600 units from September 1 to 9.

The State government will conduct a comprehensive land survey and get the details of farmers and through AEO records, it will deposit Rs 4,000 per acre into their bank accounts from May 15 next year. “Our target is to give each farmer Rs 8,000 per acre for two crops in a year towards crop investment and create a Telangana without suicides by farmers,” he said. MLAs and officials were also present.