Farmers and youth should focus on processing agricultural produce for value addition:CM
Steps to establish counters at railway stations for Andhra Popcorn and Araku Coffee: CM
CM along with Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan release non-GMO hybrid maize seeds at Musunuru
Nuzivid: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said increase in processing of agricultural products will create greater opportunities for wealth generation and farmers and youth should focus in this to produce an entrepreneur in every family. He said the coalition government’s objective is to ensure that agricultural and horticultural products from Andhra Pradesh reach global markets.The Chief Minister, along with Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Governor S. Abdul Nazeer released Garme Popcornica’s non-GMO hybrid maize seeds at Musunuru in Eluru district.
Later addressing a public meeting, the Chief Minister said Garme Popcorn is producing indigenous, non-GMO seeds on Indian soil in association with farmers. Popcorn maize grown on the soil of Nuzivid is being exported to different parts of the country as well as other nations. Non-GMO hybrid maize is being cultivated across 40,000 acres by 17,500 farmers. He expressed satisfaction over country’s largest popcorn processing plant established at Musunuru near Nuzividu.He said ntil now, a large quantity of the popcorn we consumed was imported from countries including Brazil. From now on, this wealth should remain within our country. Our popcorn should be exported not only to Asian markets but to the global market as well.“We will take steps to establish counters at railway stations so that people can enjoy Andhra Popcorn and Araku Coffee. Indigenous products such as Kondaveeti wooden toys should also reach global markets.
The Chief Minister said the NDA government at the Centre and the State view agriculture as an economic force and farmers as entrepreneurs. Our objective is to add value to the crops produced by farmers and export them. Turmeric, chilli, maize, aquaculture products and other produce should reach international markets. Let us process agricultural and horticultural products, add value to them and take them to international markets under strong brands. Only then will their value increase and farmers benefit,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister said Crops should also evolve in accordance with changing food habits. Commercial crops such as palm oil, cocoa and aquaculture have expanded around Nuzividu. He said an action plan was initiated to transform Rayalaseema into a horticulture hub and developing Rayalaseema with public and private investments of Rs.1 lakh crore.
The Chief Minister said despite the impact of El Nino this year, Godavari water was diverted to the Krishna Delta and protected the crops. The future of this region will also change once the Chintalapudi project is completed. We will launch the Veligonda project by the end of this month and provide water to Markapuram, Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts.“There is a possibility of water scarcity due to El Nino. We have taken steps to encourage farmers to cultivate alternative crops such as pulses. I appeal to farmers to cooperate and make the best use of these opportunities. He said the NDA government’s vision is to interlink rivers across the country and ensure optimal utilisation of water. Interlinking the Godavari-Krishna, Tungabhadra and Penna-Cauvery rivers can help resolve water-related problems in four states. During difficult times, this will help stabilise ayacut areas and provide drinking water.“If the Ganga, Mahanadi and Godavari rivers are also interlinked, we can put thousands of TMCs of water to productive use. If we achieve water security, the development of the country will be unstoppable,” Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said.
Ministers Nara Lokesh, K. Atchannaidu, Kolusu Parthasarathy were presen
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