Global Team of Agro Scientists Visit Fields of Natural Farming

ANANTAPUR: A 60-member global team of agriculture scientists and experts from eight countries, currently on a visit to AP, has appreciated the Natural Farming endeavour by the drought-hit farmers of Anantapur area.

These farmers successfully took up natural farming through the ATM (any time money) concept without using any chemical pesticides and fertilizers. They gained income from this throughout the year.

The 60-member team from Peru, Brukina, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Kenya was on a two- day visit to Satya Sai district to study the natural farming process. The process is being encouraged by APCNF in different parts of the state.

The farmers, by using natural organic manure along with jeevamrutham and beej amrutham, prepare their own natural disinfectant with locally available agro waste and cow dung. They produced all varieties of horticultural crops and vegetables during the seasons.

The team arrived from Bengaluru to Pedaballi village in Puttaparthi mandal on Monday morning and reached the field of P Giri Naik, who was growing 10 varieties of intercrops along with papaya as the main crop.

During interactions, Giri Naik briefed the team that he was producing at least 15-20 tonnes of papaya while also making additional income through vegetable cultivation throughout the year. He did so even during the peak summer season.

Later, the global team was given a demonstration by APCNP officials about the preparation methods of jeevamrutham with cow dung and other locally available material. He also cleared the doubts of the team members about the use of jeevamrutham in the fight against pests without using chemical pesticides.

The global team of agriculture experts and scientists also visited the farms of Kesava Reddy, Venkatrami Reddy, Subbamma and Chenna Reddy, who stood as models after they opted for the natural farming system in their village.

APCNF director Samuel Ananda, senior adviser Murali Krishna and several others were present. The team would visit farms in Bathalapalli mandal in Satya Sai district on Tuesday.