Andhra Pradesh Unveils Cutting-Edge Agriculture Schemes with Focus on Sustainability
In its latest bid to catapult agriculture and allied sectors in the state to new heights, Andhra Pradesh government presented a budget of Rs 43,402.33 crore for rural development schemes that emphasize on Kisan Drone Technology and Digital Agriculture.
On Monday, Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu and Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana jointly presented the agriculture and allied sectors budget to state assembly and legislative council respectively. The minister's proposals aim at reviving farming sector to bring sustainable growth in agricultural productivity.
Kisan Drone Technology aims to transform the agriculture landscape by leveraging aerial technology to enhance farm efficiency, farmer profitability and environmental sustainability.
As part of this ambitious programme, Kisan Drone Custom Hiring Centres will be set up across the state. The drones will help farmers in plant protection as also herbicide sprays through reduced dosage of 25 per cent to save expenditure on input costs and increase net income. This technology is expected to save time and enable broader coverage of acreage.
State government plans to set up Drone CHCs in all villages over the next three years, said Atchannaidu at an event here.
"Drone usage will be instrumental in saving time, increasing farm efficiency, and providing better returns for farmers," the minister added. He also mentioned that 875 Drone CHCs are planned to be set up in state with a cost of Rs. 87.50 crores in the first phase. "Various digitalisation services including e-Panta, AGRISNET portal, D-Krishi app which uses biometric method to distribute subsidised seeds to eligible farmers and Agri Stack Initiative are being offered to farmers," Atchannaidu said.
He also announced that the New Tenancy Act will be enacted this year with aim to introduce reforms in identification of eligible tenants. Government had introduced the `Vaddi leni runalu' and Pavala Vaddi’ scheme last year. Also, a revised budget for Polavaram irrigation projects was presented which comes at an estimate of Rs 55,548.87 crores.
B.R.Ramachandra Rao, minister for Revenue said in the event "As part of our new water policy we would construct reservoirs within this fiscal, facilitate priority availability of access to all citizens whether it is local or non-local users."
Government has also planned to set up Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme in Phase-I and Interlinking Godavari & Penna Rivers in the coming years.