Amaravati, Feb 3 (NationPress) On Tuesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urged officials to take steps to establish Andhra Pradesh as the premier natural farming center in the nation.

He highlighted that 18 lakh farmers have already committed to practicing natural farming across 20 acres in the state.

During a review meeting focused on agriculture and related sectors at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister emphasized the necessity of minimizing chemical fertilizer usage.

He underlined the critical need for certification and traceability to guarantee the quality of natural farming products.

As per the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), he instructed officials to facilitate traceability and certification for natural farming by April of this year.

The Chief Minister proposed that agriculture students engage in natural farming themselves.

He announced that statewide training programs on natural farming would be organized in partnership with agriculturist Subhash Palekar. Additionally, he stressed the importance of enhancing the share of Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural products in both national and international markets.

Reflecting on the severe water scarcity previously faced by Rayalaseema, he noted that this year, the issue has been effectively managed through enhanced water management, resulting in fully filled reservoirs and no irrigation water shortages.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that trade agreements with the United States and European Union have opened new avenues for increasing exports of shrimp, dry chillies, mangoes, rice, and processed foods from the state. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining quality.

He directed officials to develop a Cocoa City over 500 acres in Eluru district, covering cultivation, processing, and marketing to international standards. He pointed out the potential for intercropping in mango, cocoa, cashew, and coconut plantations and urged officials to motivate farmers in this direction.

While noting that Andhra Pradesh ranks second in the nation regarding banana production, he pointed out its lag in exports, calling for a concerted focus on boosting export activities. He also authorized companies interested in large-scale saffron cultivation in Lambasingi under the PPP model, with the involvement of local tribal communities.

The Chief Minister declared that registration of aquaculture activities would become mandatory. To bolster the poultry sector, he instructed that egg supply contracts for government schools and anganwadi centers be awarded directly to farmers. He also stressed that state policies in agriculture and allied sectors must align with central government policies.