VIJAYAWADA: Participating in the PM-Kisan-Annadata Sukhibhava programme at Linganguntla in Palnadu district on Saturday, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu credited Rs 3,125 crore aid directly into the bank accounts of 46.85 lakh farmers for the 2026 Kharif season. Each farmer got Rs 7,000 as the first installment under Annadata Sukhibhava.
Prior to the public meeting, Naidu visited various stalls set up by the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments at the venue. He interacted with farmers and women self-help group representatives, and reviewed initiatives related to agricultural processing units, vermicompost production, and value-addition activities undertaken by rural communities. He joined farmers in watching the PM-Kisan-Annadata Sukhibhava programme addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the Centre’s continued support to the farming community.
CM lauds natural farmer, promotes chemical-free cultivation
As part of his visit, aimed at promoting natural farming to protect public health, the Chief Minister visited the fields of Gudipalli Nagabhushanam, a natural farmer of Linganguntla, spent time listening to his farming journey, appreciating his innovative practices.
The farmer informed Naidu that natural farming had significantly reduced his cultivation costs while improving soil fertility and crop yields, making agriculture more profitable and sustainable. The State government is promoting natural farming in a big way, creating awareness among farmers about the harmful effects of excessive chemical use in agriculture, Naidu said.
Describing Nagabhushanam as a role model, Naidu said farmers like him are setting an example for sustainable and profitable agriculture.
In another heartwarming gesture, the Chief Minister visited the farmer’s traditional oil extraction unit (Ganuga), where groundnut, sesame and coconut oils are extracted through natural cold-press methods. Informing that the unit had become an additional source of income, Nagabhushanam said his cold-pressed edible oils are supplied to several consumers, and urged the Chief Minister to try the product. With a smile, Naidu remarked that purchases at home require the approval of his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari, and immediately called her over the phone from the farm itself, and after a brief conversation, purchased a litre of cold-pressed groundnut oil from the farmer, drawing smiles from those present.
The Chief Minister observed that such traditional, value-added rural enterprises can significantly strengthen village economies and provide farmers with additional income opportunities.
Later, Naidu visited the cow-based natural farming resource centre in the farm. He examined the preparation of natural inputs such as Jeevamrutham, Ghana Jeevamrutham and Neemastram, which are produced using locally available resources and supplied to farmers.
Nagabhushanam informed the Chief Minister that the centre also provides training, demonstrations and technical assistance to farmers interested in adopting natural farming. After that, Naidu visited a papaya orchard, and tasted a freshly harvested papaya offered by the farmer.