TTD pledges support for cow-based organic farming

NELLORE: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Saturday offered all support to farmers switching over to go (cow)-based organic farming.

Addressing the inaugural session of Go Maha Sammelan at Mahathi Auditorium in Tirupati, devasthanam chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy assured that TTD will extend all help to products produced by farmers using organic techniques.

This will be part of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s directive to TTD for taking up Go Samrakshana programmes towards protecting bovines that are a national asset for future generations. These programmes include Gudiko Go Mata, Navaneeta Seva, Go-based Naivedyam to Srivaru, production of Panchagavya products, MoU with SV Veterinary University for quality cows, and carrying out organic farming on TTD lands.

He called upon all farmers attending the sammelan from the two Telugu states to adopt ancient cow-based farming and dairy techniques, so that desi cow breeds could be saved as part of a Maha Yagna.

Earlier, TTD executive officer K.S. Jawahar Reddy said TTD has entered into an MoU with AP Rythu Sadhikara Samstha and Environment Farming Department for spreading awareness on advantages of organic farming and promoting desi breed of cows in the state. He underlined that TTD has set up a state-of-the-art Goshala at Palamaner over 450 acres of land, where 1,000 Ongole cows and bulls are being bred.

In her discourse on the occasion, Mata Nirmalananda Bharati of Hyderabad called upon everyone to take a pledge for saving the cow and practise cow-based agriculture as their life goal.

Later a book “Go Mahatyam” compiled by Dr. A Vibhishana Sharma was released on the occasion.

Total 24 stalls have been set up by Hyderabad, Chennai, and Mysore-based organisations at the sammelan venue for selling agarbattis, dry flower and panchagavya products, apart from decors for the benefit of those attending the two-day programme.