Visakhapatnam: Farmers in the ASR area are urging to grow alternative crops such as avocado and Litchi instead of cannabis. A training program on crop diversity was held at the Lambasingi Horticulture Collection Centre on Saturday, providing valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices. Regional horticulture official K. Bala Karna encourages farmers to explore various alternatives to marijuana, including flower culture, Rambutan, pharmaceutical crops, Rajma and Niger.
Chief Scientist Dr. K. Tejeswara Rao discusses the benefits of enhanced agricultural systems. He pointed out that processing raw agricultural products into semi-finished or finished products can improve economic benefits and create jobs.
As many as 65 farmers from the Farmers Producers Organization (FPO) participated in the event, which also laid the foundation for future interactive conferences that focused on alternative crops in high-altitude tribal areas. Retired teacher T. Siva Kesava Rao emphasized the importance of medicinal plants in traditional health care.
The initiative is part of a mandatory capacity-building program for pilot projects funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers through the AICRP on agricultural and farmers’ welfare for integrated agricultural systems.
Dr. B. Sahadeva Reddy, the project’s lead researcher, highlighted the importance of growing diverse crops to enhance agricultural resilience to resist climate fluctuations, improve soil health and increase farm income. He stressed the need to transition from a single culture to an integrated agricultural system.
