Vijayawada: A three-day trainer (TOT) program of natural agriculture practices was launched in Guntur on Tuesday.
“The green revolution addresses food security, but now the need for hours is for farmers to have chemically safe food and sustainable income,” said CEO of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (Ryss) (Ryss) at the inaugural session.
He stressed that the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Agriculture (APCNF) initiative aims to provide consumers with chemical-free food while improving farmers’ welfare and soil health. He called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the APCNF, especially through rural agriculture assistants working at the grassroots level.
Senior consultant at DV RAIDU pointed to growing concerns about the overuse of chemicals in agriculture, citing recent cases of chemical residues found in chili powder. He advocates the use of natural agricultural methods, leveraging the locally available low-cost investment prepared by farmers themselves.
The program begins from May 13 to 15 and focuses on building capacity between Rythu Seva Kendra staff and Ministry of Agriculture officials. Topics include premonsoon dry seeding technology, scientific research supporting natural agriculture, and marketing strategies.
Participants will visit nature’s farms to enjoy hands-on experiences and will later conduct department-level training courses throughout the state.
