Category Archives: Agriculture

‘Aseel cock rearing can be economically viable’

Agriculture, Nature
An Aseel breeder shows his prized possession.
An Aseel breeder shows his prized possession.

A chicken breed once reared for fighting abilities is now sought for its looks

Eggs that fetch between ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 each and cocks that cost as much as ₹1.5 lakh may sound like a flight of fancy but these are not ordinary hens and roosters that breeders are rearing.

With fans of the Aseel — a chicken breed once reared for its fighting abilities and now sought for its looks — ready to pay for birds sporting well-bred parrot beaks and peacock tails, a breeder from remote Cumbum village, near Markapur town in Andhra’s Prakasam district, is running a roaring business by rearing roosters.

Chilakacherla Krishnamachari took to breeding exotic indigenous chicken varieties in a small way in the 1990s, impressed by their build and warrior-like appearance.

“I got two pairs from the Bobbili royal family in Vizianagaram and slowly developed the farm over the years,” he says, recounting how it all started.

Now well-connected with customers on social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp and Youtube, he mints money selling Aseel eggs and chicks to bird lovers within the country and abroad at fancy prices, while retaining the breeder cocks and hens.

While a well-bred 40-day-old chick fetches ₹20,000, the cost goes up as the chicks get older. An 18-month Aseel commands as much as ₹1.25 lakh, he says after concluding a business deal with an Aseel admirer from Udumalpet in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Beauty contests

The fascination for Aseels among enthusiasts has pushed up the price of roosters since 2015. Aseel lovers now hold beauty contests at periodic intervals, says the breeder, showing the medals won by his pets in a competition held in Dindigul last year. For centuries, the ferocious Aseels were reared for their fighting abilities during gladiator events and to inspire soldiers from retreating during a war. “But I rear the birds with short beaks and long tails only to showcase them to bird lovers during beauty contests,’’ the 50-year-old breeder says, gearing up for participation in one such event in Chennai in March.

He also says he avoids using an incubator for hatching, even though more eggs can be hatched in a shorter period. To protect his precious birds, he deploys two ferocious guard dogs that maintain a strict round-the-clock vigil on the farm.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by S. Murali / Ongole – February 21st, 2019

Cage culture of Tilapia on pilot basis

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

With an objective to boost the cage culture of Tilapia farming in the State, the Water Resources department has agreed in-principle to accord permission to take up the project in the reservoirs in AP.

Vijayawada :

With an objective to boost the cage culture of Tilapia farming in the State, the Water Resources department has agreed in-principle to accord permission to take up the project in the reservoirs in AP. The officials from the fisheries department said the project will initially be rolled out on a pilot basis at Madduvalasa Reservoir in Srikakulam district and later would be scaled up to other areas.

The project was undertaken as part of a MoU signed with the USA-based Fishin’ Company, which had entered into a pact with the State government in September last year to produce the targeted 1.7 metric tonnes of Tilapia annually, the officials added.

Tilapia, also known as Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), is a fast-growing, high-yielding and value buy variety of fish across the globe. “We received an in-principle approval from the Water Resources department to take up the project in Madduvalasa Reservoir,” an official said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / February 09th, 2019

Brazil offers technology to preserve Ongole breed of cattle

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion
A Brazilian delegation calls on former YSRCP Chief Whip in Parliament Y.V. Subba Reddy in Ongole. | Photo Credit: KommuriSrinivas
A Brazilian delegation calls on former YSRCP Chief Whip in Parliament Y.V. Subba Reddy in Ongole. | Photo Credit: KommuriSrinivas

EMBRAPA delegation visits some of the farms in Ongole

Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) has offered to provide technical support to preserve the Ongole breed of cattle fast becoming extinct in its original breeding land between Gundalakamma and Musi rivers in Prakasam district.

While the number of pure breed of Ongole cattle was declining at an alarming rate, the Bos Indicus thrived in the South American country.

An EMBRAPA delegation visited some of the farms in Ongole on Sunday on the eve of Sankranti festival following an invitation from former Ongole MP Y.V. Subba Reddy. The delegation comprising Jose Ribamar F. Marques, Tarcisio Da Cruz Mesquita and Guilherme Minssen told reporters that Ongole breed of cows in Brazil yielded about 30 litres of milk on an average.

On the other hand, productivity had declined to less than five litres per Ongole cow in Prakasam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh /  by Special Correspondent / Ongole – January 14th, 2019

Guntur: Exporters, tobacco ryots get awards

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All

The board funded a research project for use of solar energy to cure tobacco crop by CTRI at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. 

Guntur :

The Tobacco Board has announced awards to best growers, exporters, traders, and best employees as part its 42nd Formation Day celebrations at Guntur.

Addressing a gathering on Friday, board executive director and chairperson K Sunitha said natural farming way in Flue Cured Verona (FCV) tobacco cultivation was taken up for sustainable tobacco production in the current season. Land has been taken by the board to conduct trials, he added.

The board launched massive campaign for control of pesticides and its residues on the plant to ensure pure tobacco without non-tobacco related material (NTRM), pesticide residues to improve production integrity, she added. The board funded a research project for use of solar energy to cure tobacco crop by CTRI at a cost of Rs 35 lakh.

Sunitha said, “Tobacco Board’s Growers’ Welfare Scheme is an initiative aimed for welfare of tobacco growers and their family members. Under the scheme, the board has created a Tobacco Board’s Growers’ welfare fund.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / January 06th, 2019

NRI’s passion to encourage jute cultivation

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nri's / Pio's
Srinubabu Gedela, NRI, addresses farmers’ awareness programme at Rajam in Srikakulam district.
Srinubabu Gedela, NRI, addresses farmers’ awareness programme at Rajam in Srikakulam district.

Huge demand for material in paper and textile industries too, he says

A U.S.-returned NRI and PULSES CEO Srinubabu Gadela wages a war against plastic saying it is ruining the health of the people and the wealth of the farmers with the huge drop in jute production in the backward Srikakulam district. He has been organising meetings for the last few months to make farmers to go back to jute. He says sufficient availability of raw jute would lead to revival of all the closed industries.

Dr. Srinubabu, who hails from Allena village of Burja mandal, completed his post doctorate from the Stanford University and started Omics Interantional Private Limited to facilitate free access of journals for researchers. Later, he established the Pulses Group, a health informatics and health care services in Hyderabad. Dr. Srinubabu, who is not content with his achievements, is keen on enhancing the income sources of farmers by guiding them in the usage of the latest technology and information in agriculture. He has been conducting training programmes for youngsters to become entrepreneurs.

“Thousands of farmers and labourers have fallen victims with little demand for jute cultivation and closure of many industries in Rajam, Bobbili, Vizianagaram and other places. The revival of jute production and processing would certainly minimise the usage of plastic covers and bags. There is huge demand for jute material in paper and textile industries too. That is why I am suggesting the farmers to go back to jute cultivation which is sure to generate more income and employment.”

Ambedkar University Vice-Chancellor Kuna Ramjee said the University would sign an agreement with the Pulses Group in training PG students in a systematic way. “Youngsters from poor families and Telugu medium can also do wonders if they work hard and develop new ideas. That is why we requested its chairman to take up special training programmes and help the PG students to get jobs in reputed firms and start their own industries,” said Dr. Ramjee.

Felicitated

Minister for Human Resources Ganta Srinivasa Rao felicitated Dr. Srinubabu for coming forward to serve the native district. “We should do something for our native places. It will certainly make other well-settled NRIs to utilise their knowledge and wealth to benefit the backward areas,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / K. Srinivasa Rao / Srikakulam – December 11th, 2018

Strawberry fields in Visakha agency beckon tourists

Agriculture, Business & Economy

This year, farmers are experimenting on developing a mother plant growing fruit, instead of getting strawberry plants from Pune.

A strawberry farm at Rajapakala in Lambasingi | Express
A strawberry farm at Rajapakala in Lambasingi | Express

Visakhapatnam :

As the city is getting colder with foggy mornings, the tourist season has arrived. Lambasingi in Visakha Agency with its rich strawberry fields, is beckoning tourists. On weekends, hundreds of people are thronging the fields to pluck the ripened strawberry fruits. This year, farmers are experimenting on developing a mother plant growing fruit, instead of getting strawberry plants from Pune.
Farmers in Chintapalli mandal started growing strawberries two years ago after getting plants from Pune. Buoyed by the good yield and profits, they continued cultivation of strawberries in the Agency. As the fruit plant requires a cool climate to grow, the Agency has proved to be an ideal place for strawberry cultivation.

The strawberry fields have become a major attraction for tourists. Some tourists are actually visiting Lambasingi to enjoy plucking the fruit and taking beautiful pictures.  Guntapakala and Rajapakala in Lambasingi have become tourist spots. Normally,  the saplings are brought from Pune in September.  The plants start yielding fruits from November.  The season continues till January.

“We are achieving good results in cultivation of strawberries. The average yield of fruit per plant last year was 600 grams. This year there is a slight delay in fruit ripening due to weather conditions. The plants need 5-15 degree Celsius temperature to yield quality fruit. After harvesting, the packed boxes of strawberries are sent to  Vizag,” said Bhaskar Raju of Teja Organ Berries in Rajapakala.

About 25,000 saplings are raised in one acre. The plants developed using tissue culture, are priced at `15 each. “We set a target of reaping 1 kg of fruit from each plant this year. On an experimental basis, we have developed a mother plant (second generation) from old plants, which helps us save money on buying plants from Pune. As we have achieved good results, we want to expand the experiment with the present plants,” Raju told TNIE.

Tribals are also being encouraged to take up cultivation of strawberries, which needs investment. Meanwhile, the government is providing subsidy on plants and other material to tribals. The ITDA has plans to provide saplings and support to the interested tribals in cultivation of strawberries. Thousands of tourists visit Lambasingi during winter season. The tourists are allowed to pluck the fruit in strawberry fields and drop the produce in baskets. A few fruits are given to tourists to taste them. A 200 gram box of strawberries costs `50-80. The tourists are evincing interest in purchasing fresh fruit, which ensures remunerative price to farmers for their produce.

“We have come down to Lambasingi to pluck strawberries, which is quite exciting. It is good that we can taste strawberries while plucking the fruit just like being in our own farm,” said Swarna of Vizag.

Cultivation of more exotic fruits in offing

Apart from strawberries, the farm also has dragon fruit, raspberry, mulberry and passion fruit plants. As a tourist attraction, cultivation of more exotic fruits is being taken up in Visakha Agency. Farmers who want to experiment, are likely to reap the fruits by next season.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Sri Lakshmi Muttevi / Express News Service / December 03rd, 2018

Ryots get access to ‘dry chain’, a cost-effective technology

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

It helps in getting seed moisture at desired level

Dry chain, a sustainable farm production model, offering simple and cost-effective technology to ensure safe, dry and high-quality staple food, is now available to the farmers of Chittoor district. The technology helps reduce aflatoxin levels in groundnut, which is one of the major crops in the district.

Vivia Foundation, a Netherlands-based public benefit organisation, launched the ‘Dry chain for groundnuts’ post-harvest programme during the current kharif season at Renuka Bio Farms unit in Routhusuramala village near Srikalahasti recently, where the solar drying chambers were inaugurated. The technology was co-developed at the University of California, Davis. Grameena Vikas Samithi (GVS), a voluntary organisation accredited with the United Nations Conventions, extended support in establishing the ‘Clean works’ rural pilot project.

Dry chain is a technology aimed at getting seed moisture at the desired level, which is 9% for groundnut. “While solar drying is the optimal option for groundnut, using zeolite beads is suggested for absorbing moisture in high-value seeds”, says Rajendranath Reddy, founder of Renuka Bio Farms.

Field-tested

Kent J. Bradford, Director of Seed Biotechnology Centre at University of California, Davis, who inaugurated the facility, dubs it the first comprehensive field-tested ‘dry chain’ system in India, applied to pre-harvest and post-harvest crop processing. Future demonstrations and training programmes are being planned to showcase dry chain technologies at the farm.

“The research study for groundnuts will continue till the next rabi season ending next spring, in which farmers from across the State will be involved”, explains GVS director L. Suryanarayana Reddy. The pilot project utilised ‘Kalgudi’, a mobile application as the platform for farmer training, data collection, transactions and supply chain traceability. The technology will be passed on to local farmers so as to improve yield quality and increase overall farm revenue.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – November 12th, 2018

Tribal farmer reaps it rich in ‘sama’ cultivation

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All
Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar having a look at the sama crop cultivated under ZBNF at Baliyaguda in Araku mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment
Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar having a look at the sama crop cultivated under ZBNF at Baliyaguda in Araku mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment

Sonnu gets yield of 6.5 quintals an acre

Following zero budget natural farming, Pangi Sonnu of Araku Valley mandal cultivated sama (little millet) got a yield of 6.5 quintals an acre.

The crop-cutting experiment in a 5×5 square metre plot was conducted at the ZBNF Sama festival at Baliyaguda village on Friday.

The festival was organised by Agriculture Department, Andhra Pradesh  Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, Sanjeevini Rural Development Society, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and Watershed Support Services and Activity Network (WASSAN).

The yield in broadcast farming was only between 2 and 2.5 quintals. Because of transplantation, weeding twice and using ‘jeevamrutham’ (bio fertilizer) following ZBNF the yield has gone up, a press release said.

‘Grow pulses’

Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar suggested that farmers should grow pulses like red gram and cow pea between rows of millets to enhance soil fertility.

Programme Manager from WASSSAN Sanyasi Rao said sama productivity could go up to six quintals in ZBNF.

State Resource Person (ZBNF) for promoting System of Millet Intensification (SMI) P. Devullu said plans were ready to convert 5 % of sama farmers into SMI. In the tribal region of Visakhapatnam, sama is cultivated in 5,319 hectares.

At a farmers interactive session organised as a part of the event farmers who had grown ragi under ‘Guli’ system shared their experiences.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 10th, 2018

ZBNF revolution sweeps village in Andhra Pradesh

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
ZBNF growers preparing cow-based fertilizer at Padarthi village in Prakasam district. | Photo Credit: KommuriSrinivas
ZBNF growers preparing cow-based fertilizer at Padarthi village in Prakasam district. | Photo Credit: KommuriSrinivas

Farmers on cloud nine over dramatic turnaround in fortunes

D. Rama Rao, like other farmers, had been using chemical fertilizers and pesticides recommended by shopkeepers at Kothapatnam. Despite heavy investments, the yield had not improved and his losses kept mounting.

However, after attending a workshop on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) at Kakinada a couple of years ago, the farmer from Padarthi village in the coastal Kothapatnam mandal switched to the environmentally-friendly practice.

Seeing for themselves the result, a majority of the farmers in the village also returned to the traditional way of cow-centric agriculture made popular by Subash Palekar.

“About 70% of the villagers have now turned ZBNF farmers. We will make our village a model one by persuading the rest of the farmers to take to chemical-free agriculture,” he says in a conversation with The Hindu.

“Now, we prepare cow dung and urine-based concoction with ample use of neem and other natural products for various purposes starting with seed treatment to plant protection,” says another progressive farmer Koteswara Rao, who has taken up groundnut cultivation in sandy loam.

Undoing the damage

“We spray diluted cow urine to get blemishless colocasia crop,” says yet another another armer, Srinivasa Rao. It took two years to restore the soil health damaged by use of chemical fertilizers, adds the proud farmer showing the good number of earthworms in his farm, thanks to adoption of mulching technique.

Large tracts of land once used to be fallow in the village in the absence of assured irrigation.

Now, a variety of crops, including organic vegetables, are grown throughout the year by installing micro irrigation system, they say, adding “we are able to get a better price for the produce from the ZBNF store in Ongole and other places.”

“We will take the natural farming movement to other villages in the mandal,” they say, adding that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who wants to bring six million farmers under ZBNF fold, is their inspiration.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by S. Murali / Ongole – October 31st, 2018

Blazing a trail for organic cotton farming

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, World Opinion
Marci Zaroff, an American and founder-CEO of MetaWear.
Marci Zaroff, an American and founder-CEO of MetaWear.

An American decides to use blockchain technology to promote ‘ECOfashion’

Setting a trend, she has become an ambassador for eco-friendly textiles. Meet Marci Zaroff, who after completing her specialisation in business management from University of California, Berkeley, coined the term ‘ECOfashion’ by promoting various lifestyle brands.

The American, who is the founder-CEO of MetaWear, a leading sustainable fashion manufacturer, has now decided to use blockchain technology in Andhra Pradesh from sowing seeds to the final product to prove genuineness on organic cotton-growing. She also has plans to replicate it in China, Turkey, Pakistan and Africa in future through partner-NGOs. She is involved in promoting cultivation of organic cotton in various parts among marginalised sections mainly women and tribal people through Chetna, an NGO in Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and Grameena Vikas Kendra in Andhra Pradesh.

During the past one and half decades, through Chetna, 2,500 tonnes of processed cotton was procured and supplied to 30 popular brands in the United States. The value of cotton was put at $5 million. The value of final product was in the range of $30 million to $40 million.

In Andhra Pradesh, she is supporting the launch of a pilot project involving 250 tribal farmers in Gummalakshmipuram in Vizianagaram district.

Expansion plan

Ms. Zaroff has plans to expand it to over 15,000 farmers in five years. During her recent visit, she told The Hindu that they wanted to sequestration of 80,000 to 160,000 tonne of carbon by 2022.

She said implementation of eco-friendly best practices would not only benefit the farmers in getting higher yield but also reduce cost of operation and ensure climate resilient cotton farming.

Ms. Zaroff said the total organic cotton produced in India was 59,470 tonne during 2016-17 growing season. India is on top in the world in organic cotton production followed by China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Tajikistan.

“We have been successfully selling T shirts, neckwear, legging, bedding, summer clothes and undergarments through various brands by associating at various stages of supply chain be it retailer, branding and stockists,” she said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Santosh Patnaik / Visakhapatnam – October 23rd, 2018