Hyderabad, Mar 13 (TNT): Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu on Friday said farmer welfare remained the core objective of the state government and stressed the need to strengthen the agriculture sector through innovative measures.
Chairing a pre-budget meeting with Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat here, Bhatti reviewed proposals of the Agriculture Department.
The DY CM advised officials to involve Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as partners in promoting organic and natural farming.
He suggested that vegetables and flowers could be cultivated through SHGs and that proper marketing facilities should be created for such produce.
He also proposed installing solar rooftop systems on Rythu Vedikas, agricultural market godowns and warehousing facilities to generate electricity.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the initiative would help reduce electricity expenditure of the Agriculture Department and create an opportunity to sell surplus power, thereby strengthening the department financially.
He directed officials to consult the Renewable Energy Development Corporation (REDCO) and take necessary steps for installing solar rooftop systems on Agriculture Department institutions.
He said the government was implementing several welfare schemes for farmers that were not undertaken during the previous government’s tenure.
Tummala Nageswara Rao said the government was distributing agricultural machinery to farmers on a large scale at subsidised rates.
He added that seeds were also being supplied to farmers with subsidy support.
The ministers emphasised that substantial funds were being spent on farmer welfare and officials should ensure that information about these benefits reaches farmers.
During the meeting, the ministers also discussed cropping patterns under various lift irrigation schemes in the state, water supply for agriculture, the extent of paddy cultivation during the Yasangi season, expected arrivals of paddy in markets and procurement arrangements.
Finance Department Principal Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Agriculture Commissioner Gopi, Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor Aldas Janaiah and other officials attended the meeting.
TNT KS
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