Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071251790300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Reduce dependence on fertilizer’

Staff Reporter

Natnaipalli station to exclusively do research related to organic farming: Raghuveera Reddy

Narsapur (Medak): Minister for Agriculture Raghuveera Reddy called upon the scientists and extension experts to help reduce the dependency of farmers on chemical fertilizers. Addressing a public meeting in Natnaipalli village where he laid foundation for the 69 acre agricultural research station, he set a target of four years for the agricultural extension officers to achieve the goal of total organic farming in the State. He announced that the Natnaipalli station would exclusively do research related to organic farming.

He said that the State government through several innovative programmes like ‘Polam Badi’ succeeded in reducing the dependency on pesticides in the State. He said that the consumption of pesticides has come down from 4800 metric tons to 1300 mt. Attributing the decreasing fertility of farming land to indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers he said that the trend has begun during the first phase of green revolution.

He said that the need of the hour is to explain the harm of continuing with the old system to the farmers.