VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed agriculture department officials to place a special focus on crop cultivation strategies designed to mitigate the unique weather challenges posed by the El Niño phenomenon.
Stressing the importance of adapting to these climatic shifts, the Chief Minister emphasised exploring extensive crop diversification opportunities and instructed officials to guide farmers on optimal cultivation patterns for agricultural, commercial, and horticultural crops based on the learnings from the past year.
Reviewing the agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture sectors at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Chief Minister highlighted the necessity of initiating a large-scale shift toward natural farming among the state’s farmers.
Noting that global markets are increasingly prioritising organic and natural certifications, he called for widespread awareness campaigns to educate the farming community on scientific cultivation methodologies and international standards.
The Chief Minister stated that he would personally participate in outreach programs aimed at motivating farmers to adopt these sustainable practices.
During the session, specific operational directives were issued concerning major state produce, including chilli, tobacco, and Totapuri mangoes.
To protect the interests of tobacco growers, the Chief Minister ordered officials to immediately convene a strategic meeting with tobacco buyers and explore advanced storage solutions that enable farmers to hold their stock until remunerative market prices are achieved.
Furthermore, he directed the department to draft comprehensive plans to promote the cultivation of high-demand pulses, thereby enhancing profit margins for local growers.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need for continuous data analysis regarding standing crops and active market inventory to backstop future policy decisions, while advocating for greater value addition across agricultural and horticultural segments.
Addressing challenges in the fisheries sector, he ordered a joint consultative meeting with aquaculture farmers, industry associations, and aqua-feed manufacturers.
Reaffirming the alliance government’s commitment, the Chief Minister stated that supporting farmers through periods of climate and market distress remains their primary objective. Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu, Chief Secretary Sai Prasad, and senior officials from the agriculture, horticulture, and finance departments attended.