Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu Offers Rs 800 Incentive to Cut Urea Use Among Farmers
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has a big plan to help farmers ditch excess urea and switch to healthier farming. On Monday, he announced an incentive of Rs 800 per bag for those who use the minimum amount of urea. This move aims to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce chemical fertilizer dependency in the state.
Speaking at a Collectors’ conference in Amaravati, Naidu directed officials to roll out the subsidy directly to farmers under the PM Pranam scheme. This central government initiative rewards states and farmers for lowering urea consumption, tackling overuse of chemical fertilizers head-on.
Naidu made it clear there’s no shortage of urea supply in Andhra Pradesh. He urged officials to plan ahead better for smooth distribution, ensuring farmers get what they need without panic buying.
The CM highlighted a recent setback: China rejected a shipment of chillies from Andhra Pradesh, citing high levels of chemical fertilizers. He warned that overusing urea, chemicals, and pesticides can lead to serious health issues like cancer. Drawing from Punjab’s example, where two special trains run daily to ferry cancer patients to Delhi, Naidu revealed Andhra Pradesh ranks fifth in cancer cases nationwide—largely due to excessive urea use in farming.
"We must educate farmers about these health risks right away," Naidu stressed. When Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar pointed out rising cancer cases in East Godavari’s Bhalabadrapuram area linked to heavy fertilizer use, the CM ordered an immediate study to uncover the causes.
Naidu also pushed for smart farming based on market demand. He praised Rayalaseema for topping horticulture production and noted Anantapur’s per capita income now beats that of Konaseema, thanks to better crop choices.
To support farmers further, the government bought 20 million kg of HD Burley tobacco and purchased mangoes at Rs 4 per kg, disbursing Rs 200 crore in payments. Currently, they’re procuring onions at Rs 1,200 per quintal to shield growers from price crashes. Naidu asked district collectors to step up efforts to safeguard farmers’ interests across Andhra Pradesh.
Turning to aquaculture farmers, Naidu assured full state backing. The government plans to supply electricity at just Rs 1.50 per unit for aqua farms covering 5 lakh acres. Officials must register these farmers within a month to access the power subsidy. Naidu emphasized traceability certification for aqua products to boost exports and ordered strict checks to stop pollution from poultry waste dumping in tanks.
This farmer-focused approach in Andhra Pradesh could set a new standard for sustainable agriculture, balancing health, environment, and income.
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