Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday underscored the importance of natural farming, sustainable agriculture and farmer welfare while releasing ₹3,125.47 crore under the PM-Kisan–Annadata Sukhibhava scheme for 46.86 lakh farmer families in Andhra Pradesh.
Participating in the PM-Kisan–Annadata Sukhibhava and Swachh Andhra–Swarna Andhra programmes at Linganguntla village in Palnadu district’s Chilakaluripet constituency, the Chief Minister said excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides was harming soil fertility, public health and the long-term sustainability of agriculture. He urged farmers to increasingly adopt natural farming practices, stating that Andhra Pradesh was already a national leader with nearly 20 lakh acres under natural cultivation.
Referring to recent export setbacks, Naidu said China reportedly returned three containers of chilli exported from Guntur due to pesticide residue concerns. He cautioned that many countries were rejecting agricultural products containing excessive chemical residues and stressed that farmers must follow scientific recommendations while using fertilisers and pesticides to ensure access to international markets.
The Chief Minister virtually joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the national PM-Kisan programme and announced the release of the first instalment of assistance under Annadata Sukhibhava. Each eligible farmer family received ₹7,000, comprising ₹5,000 from the state government and ₹2,000 under the PM-Kisan scheme. He said the coalition government was fulfilling its election promise of extending annual financial assistance of ₹20,000 per farmer family, including ₹14,000 from the state and ₹6,000 from the Centre.
Chandrababu Naidu asserted that the government was supporting farmers from seed supply to marketing and ensuring paddy payments within 48 hours of procurement. He added that e-crop systems and SMS-based advisories were helping farmers access timely agricultural information. He also assured adequate fertiliser availability across the state and encouraged crop diversification to enhance farm incomes.
Highlighting irrigation initiatives, the Chief Minister reiterated that the Polavaram project would be completed and dedicated to the nation by April 2027. He said the government was committed to extending irrigation benefits across the state through major projects and an irrigation calendar prioritising their completion.
Addressing the gathering, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said the coalition government was working to restore the agricultural sector’s strength and make farming profitable. He noted that ₹8,985.41 crore had been distributed to farmers under Annadata Sukhibhava during the previous year and that the present instalment would benefit 46,85,838 farmer families, including cultivators covered under the Forest Rights Act.
The minister said programmes relating to soil health conservation, drip and sprinkler irrigation, farm mechanisation and drone-based agriculture were being revived. He also urged farmers to reduce excessive urea usage and adopt organic and scientific farming methods.
As part of the Swachh Andhra–Swarna Andhra initiative, Naidu laid foundation stones for two waste-to-energy plants in Kadapa and Kurnool with a combined capacity of 15 MW and an investment of ₹330 crore. He said the state was establishing eight such plants to convert waste into wealth and reduce the burden of accumulated garbage.
The Chief Minister also announced that public representatives would soon visit every farmer household to understand agricultural challenges, promote crop diversification and provide awareness on government support programmes. He further said the government would soon release detailed progress reports on the coalition’s two years in office.
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