Team of agro experts laud natural farming practices implemented in A.P.

A delegation comprising 51 representatives from 20 countries visited the Kuppam Assembly constituency in Chittoor district on Friday as part of a ‘natural agriculture tour’, during which they explored various field modules

International representatives from the agricultural sector praised Andhra Pradesh for presenting effective solutions to challenges associated with agroecology, climate, food security and public health. A delegation comprising 51 representatives from 20 countries visited the Kuppam Assembly constituency in Chittoor district on Friday as part of a ‘natural agriculture tour’, during which they explored various field modules.

The representatives lauded the implementation of natural agriculture practices in the State, recognising it as a proactive measure to address pressing issues such as climate change, food security and public health. They noted that the universal principles of natural agriculture, developed by the Andhra Pradesh government’s initiative and implemented by the Rythu Sadhikar Samstha, are unmatched globally.

The delegation said that these principles are essential for overcoming numerous challenges and highlighted the importance of experiential exchanges among small-scale farmers, who are achieving success in agroecology, climate, food security and health initiatives within Andhra Pradesh.

Participants included agroecology experts, researchers and farmer representatives from countries such as Panama, Brazil, Gambia, South Korea, Indonesia and the Netherlands. The tour started in the morning at the Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) office in Kuppam, where senior officials from the Agriculture Department presented an overview of the natural agriculture cycle and explained the foundational principles integral to natural agriculture.

Subsequently, the delegates were divided into three groups and taken to Seegalapally, Ankireddypally, Singa Samudram, and Jeedimakulapally villages in Kuppam mandal, where they examined various nature farms. During the field visits, the officials provided demonstrations on the production of ‘beejamritham’, ‘solid jeevamritham’, ‘liquid jeevamritham’, and seed pellets.

The group assessed natural farming practices and gained insights into the principles of natural farming, as well as resource utilisation within chemical farming systems, thereby facilitating a comparative analysis of the two approaches.

The farmers, including G. Krishna Murthy, K.M. Venkataramana, G.V. Satyanarayana and M. Murugesh, showcased successful practices and guided the delegation through the ‘A’ grade models.

Published - November 29, 2024 08:15 pm IST