BJP Kisan Morcha pitches crop diversification to tackle climate challenges
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for crop diversification, efficient water management and greater awareness of the Union government’s agriculture schemes, expressing concern over
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for crop diversification, efficient water management and greater awareness of the Union government’s agriculture schemes, expressing concern over the challenges confronting farmers in Andhra Pradesh, including climate change, declining water availability and poor price realisation for agricultural produce. Addressing a meeting on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh BJP president P.V.N. Madhav described farmers as “soldiers within the country” who continue to cultivate despite adverse conditions. Expressing concern over the possible impact of a “Super El Niño” phenomenon, Mr. Madhav said the party would soon organise awareness programmes on climate-related challenges.
He urged farmers to reduce water-intensive paddy cultivation and switch to crops requiring less irrigation. Referring to the Polavaram project, he said completion of the Left Main Canal and the proposed release of irrigation water to Anakapalli by August 16 would provide relief to farmers. He also stressed the need to create awareness about Union government schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. He advocated traditional and cow-based farming practices and said youth farmers’ conventions would be organised in every district.
A.P. BJP Kisan Morcha president Chigurupati Kumaraswamy said farmers, particularly chilli growers, were unable to secure remunerative prices and alleged that middlemen were depriving them of fair returns. He claimed that brokers operating across villages in Nellore district were controlling agricultural marketing, leaving cultivators with little bargaining power. Kumaraswamy said farmers were not in a position to shift to alternative crops despite repeated appeals to reduce paddy cultivation. Agriculture was passing through a difficult phase, he said, with many farming families unwilling to encourage their children to take up cultivation.
Announcing that the BJP Kisan Morcha would organise a convention of about 5,000 young farmers in August, he said the organisation was committed to supporting poor and marginal farmers and ensuring that government initiatives reached them effectively.
The BriefWire