CONTINGENCY PLAN NEEDED OR NOT ?

We may not need any alternate crop plan. I have got 16 years experience in agriculture dept. No alternate crop like Pulses was successful in place of paddy previously. The farmers of Vizianagaram district are experts and can face natural vagories and cultivate paddy under adverse weather conditions.
They sow paddy with over aged seedlings of 50 to 70 days and get some yields. Now Maize crop has been introduced and is successful in many areas. It can be raised in place of paddy .
I have prepared a contingency plan discussing with Co-ordinator ,District Agriculture Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre ( DAATTC ) and MAOs and an alternate cropping plan also prepared and submitted to Commissioner and Director of Agriculture AP, Hyderabad. Seed requirements worked out for timely arrangement in case a contingency arises.
Short duration Paddy like JLG 1798, MTU 1010 and MTU 1001 are suggested , to raise in case Rains received Late after August 15 th.
.Direct sowing instead of raising Nurseries is advocated.
It is estimated that nearly 75,000 ha need to be covered under alternate crops in case South West monsoon fails.

Kharif 2011 - SW monsoon rains awaited

IN VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT KHARIF SOWINGS STARTED DURING MAY 2011 WITH DRY CROPS.
AS ON DATE AGAINST THE NORMAL AREA OF 2.4 LAKH HECTARES AN AREA OF 58,400 HA., ONLY IS COVERED UNDER VARIOUS RAINFED CROPS.
THOUGH THE RAIN FALL RECORDED IS NORMAL i.e. 112 mm against the normal RF of 128.4 mm DURING MAY 2011 18 MANDALS RECORDED DEFICIT RAIN FALL( -20 TO - 59%) . SOWINGS OF DRY CROPS LIKE MESTA,( FIBRE CROP), COTTON, GROUND NUT SLOWED DOWN DUE TO DEFICIT RAIN FALL.
PADDY NURSERY PREPARATIONS HAVE JUST COMMENCED AND GOING ON AT A SLOWER PACE. UNDER RAIN FED TANKS NURSERY SOWINGS ARE YET TO BEGIN.

UPON THIS HANDFUL OF SOIL
OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS
HUSBAND IT,
IT WILL GROW OUR FOOD, OUR FUEL,
OUR SHELTER AND SURROUNDS US
WITH BOUNTY.
ABUSE IT ,THE SOIL WILL COLLAPSE
AND DIE ,TAKING MAN WITHIT .

- Vedas

DROUGHT 2009 AND CYCLONE 2010 CROP DAMAGE INPUT SUBSIDY DISBURSEMENT 6-1-2010

INPUT SUBSIDY WAS DISBURSED TO AFFECTED FARMERS DURING January 2010 - SMT. B.JHANSI LAKSHMI M.P. VIZIANGRAM , SRI. B.CHANDRA SEKHAR, CHAIRMAN, ZILLA PARISHAD VZM, SRI,. B. APPALANAIDU M.L.A. NELLIMARLA, PRESENT AND SRI J. RAVIKUMAR JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE,VIZIANAGARAM ATTENDED THE MEETING.

Cyclone - input subsidy Disbursement by Smt B.JhansiLakshmi Hon'ble Member of Parliament ,Vizianagaram

In a meeting held at Bhogapuram in vizianagaram district, ble MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SMT. B.JHANSI LAKSHMI disbursed the input subsidy cheques to the affected farmers of Bhogapuram, Pusapatirega , and Denkada mandals . 1883 farmers were distributed an amount of Rs. 44 lakhs.

URBAN GARBAGE CAN BE CONVERTED INTO COMPOST.

NEARLY 1,20,000 METRIC TONNES OF GARBAGE IS PRODUCED IN URBAN INDIA. 50-60% OF THIS IS BIODEGRADABLE. HOW EVER , UNFORTUNATELY THIS PRECIOUS MATERIAL IS WASTED BY BURNING.
IT IS HIGH TIME THAT POLICY MAKERS AND MUNICIPAL ADMINSTRATION TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND MAKE PLANS FOR TURNING IT INTO VALUABLE COMPOST.

HOW TO IMPROVE LAND QUALITY ?

MY SELF WITH STUDENTS OF ST. JOSEPH ENG.MEDIUM SCHOOL,VIZIANAGARAM IN FIELDS AT NARAVA VILLAGE OF GANTYADA MANDAL FOR A STUDY TAKENUP FOR 18TH NATIONAL CHILDREN'S SCIENCE CONGRESS. THE PROJECT PASSED AT DISTRICT LEVEL AND WILL BE PRESENTED AT TIRUPATHI ON 5 TH AND 6TH DECEMBER 2010.

Smt.B.JHANSI,Member of Parliament,Vizianagaram visited flood damaged paddy fields in the district

COLLECTOR VISITED CROP DAMAGE AREAS

RECENT HEAVY RAINS FROM LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER AND FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2010, DUE TO DEPRESSION CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO STANDING PADDY CROP IN VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH. NEARLY 14009 HECTARES DAMAGED . THE CROP IS IN GRAIN FILLING AND MILKY STAGES. MATURED GRAINS GERMINATED IN THE FIELDS ITSELF, WHILE ON PANICLES.

DISTRICT COLLECTOR SRI M.VEERABRAHMIAH,IAS,

VISITED AFFECTED AREAS IN JAMI, L.KOTA MANDALS AND INSTRUCTED THE OFFICIALS TO COMPLETE ENUMERATION AND SUBMIT LISTS WITHIN 2DAYS TOSUBMIT THE SAME TO GOVERNMENT.

SPECIAL CONVERGENCE MEETING ON RABI 2010-11

DISTRICT COLLECTOR SRI.M.VEERABRAHMIAH,I.A.S REVIEWING RABI PREPAREDNESS IN SEEDS ,FERTILISERS ,CREDIT ,POWER,IRRIGATION,AND OTHRE ISSUES.

RABI - SPECIAL CONVERGENCE MEETING 30-10-2010

A SPECIAL CONVERGENCE MEETING ON RABI PREPAREDNESS AND KHARIF PRODUE PROCUREMENT WAS CONDUCTED AT DISTRICT COLLECTOR'S CHAMBERS ON 30.10.10 .ALL THE DISTRICT OFFICERS OF AGRIL AND ALLIED DEPARTMENTS HAVE ATTENDED THE MEETING. THE COLLECTOR SRI M.VEERABRAHMIAH, IAS INSTRUCTED THE OFFICERS TO CONDUCT SIMILAR MEETING WITH ALL ADARSA RYTHUS INVITING MLAs/MLCs ,MPPs,ZPTCs at mandal level . SEED,FERTILIZER PLANS PREPARED BY AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT ARE REVIEWED. A CREDIT PLAN FOR ISSUING CROPLOANS TO A TUNE OF Rs. 120 CRORES HAS BEEN PREPARED.TOTAL TARGET SET BY COLLECTOR IS Rs. 200 Crores for Rabi 2010-11.Constituency level CREDIT MELAS ARE TO BE ORGANISED DURING LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER AND FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY2011 WITH A TARGET OF Rs.100 crores each.

COLLECTOR INSTRUCTED ADAs TO SEE THAT CROPLOAN DUES ARE TO BE REPAYED SO THAT BANKERS CAN ISSUE FRESH LOANS AND RENEWALS.

LEAD DISTRICT MANAGER SRI. B.G.K.ACHARYULU, ASSURED THAT BANKERS WILL SANCTION LOANS ON THE SAME DAY AFTER REPAYMENT OF OLD DUES ...WITH ENHANCED SCALES OF FINANCE. IRRIGATION, POWER AVAILABILITY HORTICULTURE,PROCUREMENT OF RICE-GODOWN AVAILABILITY,MSPs,adarsa rythu participation etc. subjects are reviewed.SRI M. RAMARAO ADDITIONAL JOINT COLLECTOR ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE METING. MINUTES OF THE VIDEO CONFERENENCE WITH HON'BLE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE ARE DISCUSSED IN DATAIL.ANOTHER MEETING WITH IRRIGATION OFFICIALS IS FIXED ON 2-11-1010 AT 4 PM.

WHY I COULD NOT BLOG ?

I HAVE GOT THE SLOWEST EVER BROADBAND CONNECTION PROVIDED BY THE GREAT BSNL AT MY HOME.
WE HAVE GOT A.P.STATE WIDE AREA NETWORK AT OUR OFFICE.
TO MY SURPRISE APSWAN PEOPLE HAVE BANNED MY BLOG FOR CONTAINING THE PICTURES OF FARMERS SOIL AND CROPS WHICH ARE OBJECTIONABLE FOR VIEWING.... . may be they are not glamourous. .WE HAVE CREATED A BLOG ON SEASONLONG TRAINING PROGRAMME ON FARMERS FIELD SCHOOLS ,( THE PRESTIGEOUS POLAMBADI PROGRAMME ) AND THE SITE WAS MAINTAINED BY K.MAHARAJAN ADA BOBBILI . THIS SITE WAS ALSO BLOCKED FROM VIEWING AT GOVT. OFFICES.

DISTRICT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 04-09-2010

TODAY THE DLCC MEETING WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURAL CREDIT HAS BEEN HELD AT DRDA MEETING HALL AT VIZIANAGARAM.
THE MEETING UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF DISTRICT COLLECTOR SRI. M. VEERABRAHMIAH, IAS DISSCUSSED AT LENGTH ON AGRICULTURAL CREDIT AND JLG LOANING. SOFAR AS AGAINST A TARGET OF Rs.432 CRORES an AMOUNT OF Rs. 220 CRORES HAS BEEN DISBURSED TO FARMERS AS CROP LOANS.THE MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY SRI.BOTSA SATYANARAYANA, HON'BLE MINISTER FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ,GOVT. OF A.P. AND SMT.B.JHANSI LAKSHMI,MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT,VIZIANAGARAM. THE MINISTER AND M.P REQUESTED THE BANKERS TO ACHIEVE THE TARGETS UNDER CROP LOANS AND JLG FINANCING . THE COLLECTOR ,VIZIANAGARAM INSTRUCTED THE AGRIL. DEPT OFFICERS AND BANKERS TO CONDUCT CREDIT MELAS ,AT CONSTITUENCY LEVEL INVOLVING MLAS TO IMPROVE LENDING.

PAVALAA VADDI SCHEME EXTENDED

HAPPY NEWS - FARMERS
Government of Andhrapradesh has extended the pavalaa vaddi scheme i.e subsidizing the Crop loan interest over and above 3% . The scheme is now applicable to kharif Crop loans repaid upto 31st March 2010 and Rabi loans repaid upto June 2010.In Vizianagaram District during 2008-09 more than 27000 farmers were benefitted and an interest subsidy amount of Rs. 86.13 lakhs was credited into their accounts.

ADVERSE SEASONAL CONDITIONS IN VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT

SRI G.RAMANARAYANA REDDY .,I.A.S. DISTRICT COLLECTOR VIZIANAGARAM VISITD DROUGHT HIT AREAS

A PADDY FIELD IN L.KOTA MANDAL

· May’09 recorded a deficit rainfall of -76.8%, which resulted in less coverage and delayed sowings (by 30-40 days) of dry crops.
· There are No major projects and entire paddy cultivation is dependent on nearly 9255 Rain fed small Tanks and more than 80% were empty during the crop period.
· Even in Tatipudi and Andra reservoirs the water position is very scarce.
· There is a left over area of 59,669 ha.Under all crops.
· Paddy crop was covered in an area of 99,092 ha. only as against the normal of 1,17,946 ha . Transplantations with over aged nurseries of 40 to 80 days have been taken up in the entire district .
· In 7 drought declared mandals ,an extent of 17,141 ha. was damaged by more than 50 % and proposals were sent for release of Rs. 729 lakhs as input subsidy.
· proposals were sent for release of Rs. 1192 lakhs as input subsidy for
an extent of 26634 ha. damaged by more than 50% in another 19 mandals.
· 50-60 % yield reduction is expected in Paddy, Mesta, Cotton, Ground nut Maize And sugarcane crops .
It is estimated that in the entire district the total yield loss in sown areas is around Rs. 206.59 crores and the value of production loss in leftover areas is Rs. 145.31 crores.

SHEATH BLIGHT IS SEVERE IN VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT

SHEATH BLIGHT DISEASE ON PADDY IS SEEN MOSTLY IN MTU -7029 , AND BPT-5204 VARIETIES IN MANY PLACES IN VIZIANAGARAM DISTRICT DURING SEPTEMBER 09.

Identification
First symptom of sheath blight appear on leaves nearer to water surface. Sheath blight cause spots or lesions mostly on the leaf sheath. The spots are initially greenish, Grey, irregularly elongated and later become grayish white brown margin, ranging in size from 1-3 cm long. Under humid condition the mycelium of the fungus grow upward to infect other leaf sheath and leaf blades. The formation of large spots on a leaf sheath may results in the death of whole leaf and in severe conditions all the leaves may give blighted appearance.
The disease is destructive under high humidity and warm temperature. Temperature range of 28-32oC and RH 81-97% are conducive for disease development. High application of nitrogen increases disease development. .

Management
Remove grasses from bunds regularly.
Foilar spray of Bavistin 2g//litre
Reduce nitrogen.
Apply potassium.
Spray hexaconazole ( Conrtaf 5EC) @ 2ml/L or propiconazole( Tilt 25 EC)@ 1ml/L

RETIREMENT OF OUR BELOVED JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE

Sri M.N.Gangaram ,Joint Drector of Agriculture,vizianagaram

retired on 31-07-09, after completion of 33 years of successful service in Department of Agriculture

RKVY TRAININGS TO RYTHU MITHRA GROUP FARMERS ON HIGH COST IMPLEMENTS

THE TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED AT AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH STATION GAJULAREGA, VIZIANAGARAM.

IN THE PHOTO WE CAN SEE SRI M.N. GANGARAM ,JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, VIZIANAGARAM ADDRESSING THE FARMERS.SRI J.RAVIKUMAR,DDA,VIZIANAGARAM AND SRI PRK.RAJU SCIENTIST HAVE ALSO PARTICIPATED. 50 RMG MEMBERS HAVE ATTENDED FOR THE TRAINING.

RKVY TRAININGS TO FARMERS ON HIGH COST IMPLEMENTS

RKVY-FARM MECHANIZATION TRAININGS

FARM MECHANIZATION IS GIVEN TOP PRIORITY DURING 2009-10 .

A NEW SCHEME HAS BEEN FORMULATED UNDER RKVY AND BEING IMPLEMENTED TO SUPPLY HIGH COST IMPLEMENTS ON SUBSIDY.

TRAININGS TO AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS AND SELECTED FARMERS OF RYTHU MITHRA GROUPS ARE UNDER PROGRESS.

HIGH COST IMPLEMENTS LIKE COMBINE HARVESTERS , PADDY TRANSPLANTERS , MAIZE DE-HUSKERS CUM SHELLERS, ETC. WILL BE SUPPLIED ON 50% SUBSIDY. 40% LOAN WILL BE EXTENDED FROM BANKS AND 10% AMOUNT ONLY SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTED BY THE SELECTED AND ELIGIBLE RYTHU MITHRA GROUP