The Minister for agriculture of Telangana State Pocharam Srinivas Reddy here on Thursday inaugurated the Seed Mela – 2018 at the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) Auditorium Premises in Rajendranagar. PJTSAU was organized the Seed Mela with the collaboration of local ICAR Research institutes such as Indian Institute of Rice Research(IIRR), Indian Institute of oil seed Research(IIOR), Indian Institute of Millet Research(IIMR),Directorate of Poultry and National Seed Corporation(NSC), Telangana State Seed Development Corporation(TSSDC), Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Agency(TSSOCA). The Vice Chancellor of PJTSAU Dr V. Praveen Rao was presided the meeting organized on the occasion of Seed Mela – 2018 and he gave the overview of the seed mela and the efforts made to provide quality seed to farmers of Telangana state. He emphasized on the quality of the seed which turns into 15-20 percent higher yield realization through it said the VC. Further he stated that, in this present seed mela about 24crop varieties were exhibited. He added that the seed mela will be conducted every year regularly on 24th May at university headquarters and three other Regional Agricultural Research Stations(RARS) namely Warangal, Jagitial and Palem in Nagarkurnool district.
The Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy was formerly inaugurated the seed mela and distributed to the farmers. While speaking on this occasion agriculture minister said Government of Telangana State has initiated many reforms in agriculture to make farmer live with self respect and pride. He also stressed on Telangana is only the state in India supporting farmers with Rs 8000 per acre per annum to help in investment in crop production. This is in addition to regular input subsidies he says. In order to invigorate the soil fertility green manure crops like Pilli pesara and Jeeluga (Dhaincha) are ready for distribution to farmers at 50percent subsidy. He also highlighted the implementation of crop insurance village as unit though other states are implementing mandal as unit.
Later he visited the Rice section at Agriculture Research Institute in Rajendranagar along with VC PJTSAU Dr. V.Praveen Rao and TSSDC Chairman Kondabala Koteshwar rao. And he has seen the functioning of paddy transplanter. At this occasion the scientists explained the working condition of transplanter.
The Directors of ICAR research institutes based at Rajendranagar Dr. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, Dr. SR Oleti, Dr. Vilas A. Tonapi, Director of Research PJTSAU Dr. Jagadeeshwar, TSSOCA Director Dr. Keshavulu and large number of farmers, scientists of PJTSAU and other ICAR institutes, Horticulture University, Board of Management Committee members, University officers of PJTSAU were present