No shortage of seeds, fertilisers in Kurnool Said Agriculture official Wilson

Kurnool: With the arrival of rains, farmers have started sowing of seeds at various places across the district. Sowing for cotton, red gram, ground nuts and onions has started at some western parts of Kurnool district.

The Joint Director of Agriculture (JDA), Wilson speaking to The Hans India has said that this kharif season cotton is planned to cultivate in an extent of 5.95 lakh hectares. It is planned to cultivate red gram in 80,000, ground nut in 80,000 hectares and onions. For the past two days, some areas in the western part are receiving rains.

Sowing was done in 600 hectares, intensive sowing is yet to take place and that is expected in a couple of weeks, he said. He further said that seeds of various varieties have been distributed through Rythu Bharosa Kendram set up at village level. So far 43,000 quintals have been distributed to farmers. Speaking about spurious seeds, the JDA said, as intensive raids are being conducted by the officials of enforcement and agriculture, there is no question of spurious seeds in the market.

Moreover no seeds are considered to be spurious until and unless they are tested at the lab. The JDA said farmers are now growing paddy nurseries. After 40 days of seedling, paddy transplantation would take place. Further Wilson said horticulture crop is likely to cultivate in an extent of one lakh hectares across the district. There is no scarcity of seeds, pesticides and fertilisers. The farmers are encouraged to go for natural farming. They are directed to use manure instead of chemical fertilisers and also advised to do soil testing before sowing seeds, stated the Joint Director of Agriculture, Wilson