Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy today disclosed that mini soil test centers will be set up at AEOs level to encourage frequent soil tests. The Minister asked Agriculture Extension officials to conduct soil tests before going to begin cultivation.
At a video conference with AEOs, the minister asked the officials to ensure soil tests taking every farmer as a unit. The soil tests should be conducted well in advance and have accurate details pertaining to total area of crops being sown, the minister said. He also asked them to submit a regular report on the works taken up at the field level and the farmers should get guidance for better farm practices.
Stating that interest will be waived off to the farmers paying back their loan up to Rs 1 lakh, the minister suggested to the farmers to insure their crops. He also asked AEOs to take immediate steps to encourage the farmers to get insurance for their crops through publicity. The Government was ready to provide compensation to the crops loss due to untimely rains and thunderbolts in the recent times, he said. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has agreed to offer suitable compensation and the officials should submit a report in this regard, he said. The minister also directed that tractors and farm equipment be distributed to farmers at the earliest. (NSS)