VIZIANAGARAM: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said plans are afoot to switch about 60 lakh farmers to natural farming by the year 2024. Addressing a public meeting at S Kota in Vizianagaram district as part of Nava Nirmana Deeksha, he said by adopting innovative technologies in farming the State has achieved 17.7 percent growth rate in agriculture sector, whereas national average in agriculture sector stood at a mere 6.32 percent.
Flak for BJP-led government
He described BJP-led NDA government as anti-farmer and said it failed to implement the Swaminath Commission recommendations, as promised. He alleged that the Centre has refused to procure crops, such as maize from the State and in the larger interest of the farming community, the State government took upon itself the responsibility to procure those crops.
Reiterating that the TDP government always has the interest of the farmers in the heart, Naidu said several irrigation projects were taken up to ensure irrigation water for the farmers and cited the example of Pattiseema project and how it helped save the crops in the Krishna delta. He said farm-pond programme and utilisation of Krishna water in Rayalaseema saw groundwater levels increase in spite of deficit rainfall.
Development of Vizianagaram
Stating that his government has always focused on the development of Vizianagaram district, he said Thotapalli project ensured irrigation water to 1.10 lakh acre across the district in addition to 40,000 acre in Gajapathinagaram. “Similarly, with other medium irrigation projects another 50,000 acre are being irrigated across the district,” he explained.
Naidu said under Jhanjhavathi, Tarakarama sagaram and other projects another 1 lakh acre are being covered in the district. He announced sanction of 5000 more bore wells in addition to the 25,000 bore wells already granted to the district under Jalasiri. The chief minister advised farmers to switch over to more profitable aqua farming, dairy, horticulture rather than sticking only to traditional farming.
Kudos to Vizianagaram
Describing Polavaram project as the lifeline of the State, he said that his government was determined to complete the project by 2019, despite non-cooperation from the Centre. Expressing satisfaction on Vizianagaram achieving 100 percent ODF, he said that it was now time for ODF plus and waste-to-wealth projects in the district. The proper sewage system in rural areas, individual water tap connections, etc., would be taken up across the State at an estimated cost of `25,000 crore, he said. On the occasion, Naidu reiterated that it was due to BJP-led NDA government’s betrayal, the state is suffering in terms of development. He said none of the promises made to the State during state division were implemented.
Jagan, Pawan criticised
Taking exception to the comments made by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the Chief Minister said the YSRC leader lacked sincerity. He said that on one hand he moved no-confidence motion against the NDA government and on the other engaged in secret deals behind the scene with the BJP. He said that even the JSP chief Pawan Kalyan was acting on the directions of BJP. Earlier, the CM visited Jammudevapeta of S Kota mandal and interacted with the people and farmers of the village. He inaugurated 4,696 Anganwadi buildings across the State online. Vizianagaram MP P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and others were present.