Agriculture News

NTR District: District Collector G. Lakshmisha stated that crops such as paddy, maize, sorghum, and black gram have sustained minor damage due to unseasonal rains, strong winds, and hailstorms. However, he assured farmers that there is no need for alarm, as compensation will be provided to every affected farmer based on the final assessment reports. The Collector noted that officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments are acting vigilantly at the field level and are conducting transparent assessments of the crop damage. During a video conference held from the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, District Collectors and senior officials reviewed the extent of the crop damage. In accordance with Collector Lakshmisha’s directives, farmers were advised to follow the methods suggested by the Agriculture and Horticulture department officials to protect their crops. He further mentioned that crops such as banana and papaya have also suffered minor damage, and appropriate compensation would be provided for these as well.

Andhra Pradesh’s community-managed natural farming programme run by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha wins Sweden’s Food Planet Prize 2026 The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme, implemented by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, has won the Food Planet Prize 2026, worth $1.5 million, for leading one of the world’s largest transitions to natural farming. The award was presented in Bastad, Sweden, on Tuesday (June 2, 2026). The prize, given by the Curt Bergfors Foundation, recognises initiatives that could contribute to resilient, equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems within the next decade. The other finalists, Conscious Kitchen of the United States, NoPalm Ingredients of the Netherlands and the Savanna Institute of the United States, each received $150,000.

Farmers have lost nearly ₹7,900 crore in the last two years due to falling prices, rising input costs and inadequate government support, alleges Nagi Reddy Farmers in Andhra Pradesh have suffered a loss of nearly ₹7,900 crore in the last two years due to the “anti-farmer policies and administrative failures” of the TDP-led NDA government, alleges YSRCP general secretary in-charge of agriculture and farmers’ welfare M.V.S. Nagi Reddy. Addressing the media at the party central office at Tadepalli on Sunday, Mr. Nagi Reddy said the agriculture sector was slipping into a deep crisis, while the government remained indifferent. He claimed that farmers cultivating paddy, tobacco, maize and Bengal gram incurred losses during the last two rabi seasons because of falling prices, rising input costs and inadequate government support.

Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu said the programme focuses on five key aspects – water security, demand-driven crops, agri-technology, food processing and government support. VIJAYAWADA: Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu on Monday said the State government has launched the “Rythanna- Meekosam” programme to directly reach farmers and guide them towards profitable agriculture. The Minister inaugurated the programme at Gollapudi in Mylavaram constituency of NTR district along with MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad. He interacted with farmers in the village and distributed pamphlets explaining various government initiatives aimed at improving farm incomes. Atchannaidu said the programme focuses on five key aspects – water security, demand-driven crops, agri-technology, food processing and government support. Officials and public representatives will visit every farmer’s household to create awareness about profitable farming practices and collect crop-related details at Rythu Seva Kendras. He said farmers would be guided to select crops based on market demand. He added that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed that the kharif season may begin from May 15 this year so that farmers can take advantage of water and avoid losses due to untimely rains. Atchannaidu said steps are being taken to complete canal repairs to ensure adequate irrigation. The Minister said the programme will be conducted across the State from March 16 to 22 to strengthen the agriculture sector.

The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham along with the Andhra Pradesh Tenant Farmers’ Association have urged the State government to enhance crop loans, increase subsidies on agricultural inputs and provide compensation for crop losses to farmers’ and tenant cultivators before the commencement of the Kharif season. The associations staged a dharna in Vijayawada on Monday and later submitted a memorandum to NTR District Collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha. Addressing the gathering, Tenant Farmers’ Association State general secretary P. Jamalaiah and Rythu Sangham State vice-president Malneedi Yalamanda Rao demanded that the government increase the ‘scale of finance’ in line with rising cultivation costs and extend crop loans up to ₹2 lakh to tenant farmers without insisting on collateral or guarantees.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath on Sunday (February 22) announced that efforts were on to ensure that all farmers in NTR district adopt natural farming, with the ultimate goal of making the district a model for the entire nation. Participating in the organic farmers’ festival at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) stadium in the city, the MP said terrace gardening was also being encouraged in urban areas. Soon, seminars on organic farming would be conducted in every mandal through the Kesineni Foundation, the MP said, adding that plans were being made to conduct these seminars for 225 days.

The Collector inspected desilting and tank restoration works, interacted with workers about wages and progress, and later joined them in the activities. VIJAYAWADA: NTR District Collector G Lakshmisha on Friday joined MGNREGS labourers at Jodichintala tank in Mulapadu village of Ibrahimpatnam mandal as part of the Jaladhara-Jalaharathi programme. He said the district administration is implementing a large-scale action plan to restore water bodies and conserve groundwater. The Collector inspected desilting and tank restoration works, interacted with workers about wages and progress, and later joined them in the activities. He noted that 445 tanks across the district have been identified for development under Jaladhara, with works including desilting, bund strengthening, feeder channel restoration and improvements to storage capacity being taken up in phases through MGNREGS funds. Lakshmisha said 1,300 works worth Rs 87 crore have been sanctioned under the programme. Although the tanks have a combined storage capacity of 10.4 TMCs, only 5.5 TMCs are currently available. Efforts are underway to restore full capacity before the monsoon season. He added that the initiative will help improve groundwater levels, support agriculture.