Organic farming leads to horticultural productivity: Expert

Bhimavaram: Organic farming plays a key role in the higher productivity and profits in the horticulture sector. Dr. M. Jagapati Raju, director of SRKR Engineering College, stressed that it is essential to discard chemical pesticides in both agriculture and horticulture. The central government launched Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) with an aim to create awareness among farmers across the country to adopt sustainable farming.

As part of this initiative, it has decided to adopt five villages—Pedda Amiram, Kalla, Kopalle, Jakkaram, and Kallakur—for the promotion of organic farming techniques in these regions so that productivity and farmers’ income could be boosted.

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Jagapati Raju showed his papaya field, where he got remarkable productivity with the help of natural farming. He didn’t use pesticides in his field. He further stated that papayas grown through organic ways have a tremendous demand in the market amid their natural taste and quality.

A team of experts, including Dr. Rambabu, Dr. K. Mehar Ganesh, Dr. Sui Babu, Dr. Raghu, and Dr. Jivan Kumar, visited the farm to observe the benefits of organic horticulture. Dr. Raju suggested that widening the bunds of fields can improve results in horticultural farming.

Raju inspired farmers to go for natural methods because they improve soil quality and also boost yield, which is healthier for the consumers. Chemical-free food and organic farming are beneficial for economic growth as well as the environment.

The initiative taken by SRKR Engineering College under UBA is a baby step at the moment for sustainable agriculture growth, boosting eco-friendly farming, and increasing farmers’ incomes.