In order to adapt to the new normal during the COVID-19 era, as part of cutting costs, farmers should address large-scale farm mechanization and use best agronomic practices to stay afloat, said Tobacco’s chairman Board, Y. Raghunatha Babu.
When participating in the “Eurvaka Pournami” festival organized by the Ongole II auction platform farmers, he exhorted progressive farmers to take the lead in introducing and disseminating innovative agricultural techniques among other farmers.
He cautioned farmers to choose FCR 15, a high-yielding (2,400 kg / ha) tobacco variety developed by the Central Tobacco Research Institute and suitable for cultivation in the Southern Light Soil (SLS) region.
He symbolically tilled a piece of land and patted the farmers leaders VV Prasad, Pothula Narasimha Rao and P. Bhadri Reddy for organizing the traditional cultural practice on the occasion of the beginning of the kharif cultivation.
A. Sridhar Babu, Executive Director of the Tobacco Board, noted that market prices for light and medium varieties were up to date and promised to work with dealers to meet growers’ demands for better prices for the inferior varieties.
Tobacco Board Vice Chairman G. Konda Reddy said it was the right time to start growing green manure.
Southern Black Soil Regional Manager B. Manjunath noted that the overnight rains offered farmers good prospects for the start of cultivation. SLS regional manager D. Venugopal informed about the efforts of the board to guarantee better prices for the farmers in difficult times.