Hyderabad: State Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao conducted a comprehensive Agriculture Department review and ordered corrective action on fertilizer use, seed supply and quality control. He directed officials to address shortcomings through time-bound measures and stronger field monitoring.
The review followed the Southern States’ Agriculture Conference. Agriculture Department Secretary, Heads of Departments and senior officials of allied agricultural corporations attended the meeting.
Tummala conducted an item-wise assessment covering balanced fertilizer use, pulse cultivation and seed availability. He also reviewed the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, pesticide quality, natural and organic farming, Rythu Nestham and various schemes.
The Minister directed officials not to cite shortcomings as excuses and instead take immediate corrective measures. He called for continuous field-level monitoring wherever gaps existed between targets and actual progress.
Officials were also told to improve the accountability of field-level staff. While noting satisfactory progress in several areas, Tummala expressed concern over rising chemical fertilizer consumption and the absence of adequate crop rotation.
The review found severe imbalances in fertilizer application. Telangana’s current N:P:K ratio stood at 14.9:5.7:1, compared with the ideal ratio of 4:2:1.
Tummala also noted that urea consumption in the State stood at 217 kg per hectare. The national average was stated to be 160 kg per hectare.
He ordered immediate corrective measures in coordination with universities. Officials were advised to promote micronutrients, bio-fertilizers, green manure and fertigation.
Agriculture Department review focuses on quality control
Tummala expressed dissatisfaction with quality control measures covering fertilizers and pesticides. He ordered strict follow-up in every case involving misbranded or substandard products.
Officials were directed to establish a digital tracking system covering the process from sample collection to court proceedings. The Minister also called for faster NABL accreditation of existing laboratories and additional testing capacity.
He instructed officials to complete inquiries and prosecutions within specified timelines without delays.
Meanwhile, the Minister appreciated the State’s performance in pulse cultivation, where it achieved 127% of the target. However, he raised concerns over certified seed production and distribution.
The review found that certified seed production had reached only 47% of its target, while distribution stood at 34%. Tummala directed officials to take measures to bridge these gaps.
Officials were also instructed to arrange adequate seed stocks well in advance for the coming Rabi season.
Reviewing the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Tummala directed officials to fully utilise sanctioned funds. He said the focus should extend beyond increasing sanctions to the infrastructure actually created.
The Minister also asked officials to assess the value such infrastructure adds for farmers while implementing projects under the fund.