Date:09/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/09/stories/2004080903950300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Cane substitutes to be `doubly sweet' for farmers

By Our Staff Reporter

PUTTUR (CHITTOOR DT), AUG. 8. The State Government is considering introduction of two new crop varieties as a high-yield, low-cost alternative to sugarcane so that the farmer can get increased returns.

Sweet sorghum and sugarbeet, suggested by ICRISAT, are the likely substitutes in the future, as they consume less water and comes to yield in half the time taken by cane, doubling the farmers' profits.

The Minister for Agriculture, N. Raghuveera Reddy, disclosed this at a meeting on Sunday while inaugurating a Farmer Information and Advisory Centre, built by Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) in Puttur, 40 km from Tirupati. The advisory centre provides information on market opportunities, soil testing, cropping pattern, besides inputs from agricultural research agencies and universities. Speaking on the occasion, he said crops would be introduced throughout the State in a phased manner.

Cloud-seeding

Cloud-seeding would start in Chittoor and Anantapur on Sunday, if clouds were found, he said. "As the monsoon extends up to November in Chittoor, we will continue it till then,'' he announced, attributing the slowdown to a technical snag and procedural hassles with Bangalore airport authorities in harbouring the flight.

Seed villages

On spurious seeds glut in the market, Mr. Reddy said the farmers would be made self-reliant vis-a-vis seed production. A project is on the anvil to develop a village in every mandal as a "seed village''. He said Rs.6.5 crores worth of spurious seeds were seized recently and the dealer jailed.

The Collector, S. S. Rawat, ATMA project director, S.Rajasekhar Naidu and Joint Director (Agriculture) D. Rushyendranath, participated.