Vizianagaram district to set up seed villages

VISAKHAPATNAM/VIZIANAGARAM: Vizianagaram district administration is planning to set up seed villages in a bid to promote seed stockage so that farmers do not procure seed from the government or private agencies.

Sources in the agriculture department said increasing dependency on government agencies for seed procurement has meant that farmers have forgotten the art of seed drilling , which was a common practice.

They added that seed stocking helps acclimatise the seed to local soil and climatic conditions, ensuring a better crop production.

Officials will target 30 mandals this year for the programme.

During a meet at the collectorate, additional joint collector, J Sita Ram and Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) officials agreed to conduct seed drilling workshops for the benefit of farmers. “Our main aim is to develop seed villages in each mandal so that quality seeds, well-acclimatised to the local soil and climatic conditions can be produced and stocked by farmers themselves,” said Sita Ram.

ATMA officials said farmers who practise sound methods of cultivation must be selected for the workshops, to gain expertise and also become local trainers.