A team of experts will visit the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh from 7th to 11 March for effectively implementing the Model of Zero Budget Natural Farming in the State. This team will submit its report to the state government before 17 March, the proposed date of State Level Conference on natural farming. This information was given in the meeting organized under the chairmanship of Governor Acharya Devvrat, for implementation of zero budget natural farming at Raj Bhavan, Shimla, and today.On this occasion, the Governor said that the State should take the services of former Chief Secretary of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Vijay Kumar, who is currently the Chief Advisor, Agriculture, in this field as he was working from last several years in this direction. He has successfully implemented zero budget natural farming system in about one thousand villages of the state in two and a half years. "We can move forward with their model. Apart from this, farmers can be trained by taking services of Padamshree Dr. Subhash Palekar as a scientist", said the Governor.Acharya Devvrat said that the model was more effective for small farmers and especially in horticulture sector. It is also helpful in doubling the income of farmers and added that it would be a big contribution to the state, so the officers should work with dedication and mission. "This system has six advantages directly, save the water, protect the environment, fertility of land will increase, cow protection, product better for health and farmers will survive", said the Governor.
He urged the Animal Husbandry Department to work towards breed improvement and especially to make available the high yielding semens of Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Red Sindhi Bulls to farmers. He said that it was the need to work in this direction and save the indigenous cow. He also urged the departmental to undertake training and take advantages of centrally sponsored schemes for breed improvement.Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Dr. Shrikant Baldi informed that the State Government was endeavoring to promote zero budget natural farming and for this, Gurukul Kurukshetra and Andhra Pradesh models would be studied. He said that a team of Agriculture, Horticultural Universities, Agriculture and Horticulture departments would visit the state of Andhra Pradesh on a five-day tour from March 7 to March 11. A State Level Conference would be held on 17th March. He said that writing material, package of practice and training would be done at all levels in this regard.Principal Secretary Horticulture Shri J.C. Sharma and Secretary, Rural Development Shri R.N Batta also gave their valuable suggestions.Director Rural Development, Shri Rakesh Kanwar, Director Agriculture Shri Des Raj Sharma, Director Horticulture Shri Mohinder Singh Rana, officials of Animal Husbandry Department and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.