Let farmers benefit from advanced tech: Tummala

Hyderabad: Agriculture minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao exhorted heads of 14 agriculture corporations to adopt advanced technology and make them accessible to farmers.

Reviewing the functioning of departments allied to agriculture here on Wednesday, he said, “The best practices that benefit the farmer should be adopted from other countries. The corporations should steer clear of the profit motive and bid goodbye to obsolete methods. They should chalk out a special programme to adopt technology in tune with the requirements of the corporations. This will also boost productivity.”

The minister sought a complete report on the steps taken so far. He said steps should be taken to ensure that private companies, which make machines and fertilizers, don’t end up as the sole beneficiaries.

Rao said that lands under the horticulture department should be used to appropriate levels.

“All corporations should make a list of their assets and the onus for protecting them is on everyone. Schemes launched by the central government should be put to best use,” said Rao, who has been reviewing the progress and performance of the department for the last three days.