Naidu Urges Andhra Farmers to Adopt Natural Farming, Says 80 Lakh Acres Covered

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday urged farmers to shift to natural farming, and to focus on tree plantation and biodiversity conservation. He was speaking at a gathering of farmers at Kothapeta in the Kuppam Assembly Constituency, where he also launched several development works.

Mr. Naidu said reducing the use of chemical fertilisers would protect soil health and ecological balance. “Biochar made from farm waste and tree residues improves fertility and water retention while aiding climate balance,” he said, adding that farmers needed greater awareness about green cover.

According to the Chief Minister, around 80 lakh acres in Andhra Pradesh is already under natural farming, and the government is expanding it further. He described practices he said were central to the approach. Broadcasting seeds through modern methods, he said, ensures germination with the help of rains and keeps fields green round the year. Keeping the soil covered between crops prevents direct sun exposure, lowers soil temperature and sustains yield, while also providing green fodder for livestock. Returning crop residues to the soil enhances fertility. “It should be a people’s movement,” he said.

Natural farming generally refers to methods that rely on organic inputs, cover crops and minimal use of externally purchased chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Several States, as well as the Union government, have been promoting such practices in recent years.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a Revenue Divisional Office and an Additional Superintendent of Police office, to be built at a cost of ₹10 crore. He inaugurated an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plant and Material Recovery Centre built at ₹3.30 crore, and performed the ‘bhoomi puja’ for Mallanur Junior College, to be taken up on 10 acres at a cost of ₹2.70 crore. He also launched 15 MW of PM-KUSUM solar projects for agricultural feeders. PM-KUSUM is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at expanding solar power in agriculture.

The event combined a policy appeal to farmers with the launch of local infrastructure and energy projects. Kuppam, in Chittoor district, is the Chief Minister’s home constituency and has been the focus of several State development initiatives.

At the same meeting, Mr. Naidu highlighted three young people from Kuppam as examples of building livelihoods locally instead of migrating to distant cities.

Surekha from Pogurupalli, a graduate, said she had secured a supervisor’s job at Avas, a company set up locally. She told the Chief Minister that working close to her village gave her parents confidence, and that she was pursuing an MBA while working.

Another young person, Subrahmanyam, told Mr. Naidu that he was promoting value addition to Kuppam’s agricultural produce through an industrial venture.

The third, Vignesh, said he had been documenting Kuppam’s development through creative social media videos on local specialities and earns around ₹1 lakh a month.

Mr. Naidu said the trio’s journey showed that youth can create self-employment by upskilling, implementing business ideas, turning creativity into enterprise and generating jobs for others. “The government will further expand employment, industrial and skill opportunities,” he said.