The State Government has signed an MoU with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Indian Council of Agriculture Research ( ICAR) on Technical Cooperation Project for strengthening capacities of the government of Aandhra Pradesh to support farmers to adopt sustainable agri food systems
The MOU is signed, in the presence of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, by Agriculture Special Chief Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah on behalf of the State and Food and Agriculture Organization Country Director Tomio Shichiri and Indian Council for Agriculture Research Deputy Director General Dr A K Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said RBKs were set up as part of an effort to weed away fake seeds, pesticides and fertilizers from markets.He said measure were taken to ensure remunerative price to the farmers and explained about e- cropping. He said revolutionary changes will come up in Agriculture sector in the state with the steps being taken by the government.
Food and Agriculture Organization Country Director Tomio Shichiri said RBKs will bring revolutionary changes in agriculture and added that they are the role model in agriculture in the country. He said Integrated agri labs will stand out as good organisations in providing the best quality inputs to the farmers and integrated call center system and RBK studios will help yo get best results to the farmers.
FAO will provide technical and financial assistance to RBKs in the state and ICAR along with FAO will work towards strengthening RBKs in the state. FAO will provide training to farmers, RBK staff, officials, scientists on new technologies in agricultural allied sectors and training to farmers on best cultivation management practices.
Tomio Shichiri, Country Director/ Food and Agricultural Organization representative in India, Dr. C. Konda Reddy, Assistant FAO Representative in India, Senior Food Safety and Nutrition Officer, Sridhar Dharmapuri, National Expert on Agri. Certification Nachiket Udupa, National Expert on FFS Sudhakar Yarrakonda, ICAR Deputy Director General Ashok Kumar Singh, ICAR-ATARI and Director Dr. J.V. Prasad were among who met the Chief Minister.
Agriculture Minister Kurasala Kannababu, Agriculture Special Chief Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah, Agriculture Commissioner C H Arun Kumar, AP Seeds development corporation VC and MD Shekar babu were present on the occasion.
