Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Tuesday directed officials to ensure the timely supply of oil palm seedlings and drip irrigation systems to farmers, reiterating the State government’s commitment to expanding oil palm cultivation.
Reviewing the Agriculture Department’s activities with senior officials at the Secretariat, he instructed officials to assess district-wise demand in advance and make arrangements for the timely availability of seedlings through nurseries.
Mr. Rao also called for continuous monitoring of delays in the delivery of seedlings allotted to farmers to ensure that cultivation activities were not affected. Emphasising the importance of drip irrigation in oil palm cultivation, he directed officials to take special measures to prevent disruptions in the supply of drip equipment.
Reviewing maize procurement across the State, Mr. Rao instructed MARKFED officials to speed up the payment process and ensure that farmers received payments promptly in their bank accounts.
Expressing concern over fertilizer availability during the ongoing rainy season, he directed officials to immediately address any shortages or transportation issues reported from any part of the State.
The Minister also asked officials to examine the feasibility of distributing fertilizers through women’s self-help groups (SHG). He said the extensive network of women’s groups in rural areas could be utilised to provide farmer services, enabling easier access to fertilizers while generating employment and income opportunities for women.
Mr. Rao said the government was taking precautionary measures in view of El Nino conditions and emphasised the need for agricultural extension activities to educate farmers about suitable alternative crops.
Published – July 07, 2026 07:31 pm IST
