Tribal farmers should tap welfare schemes: PMDDKY nodal officer

Central Nodal Officer from Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) Amit Singla on Wednesday said that tribal farmers should make effective use of government welfare schemes to improve their economic status.

Mr. Singla undertook a field visit to the Lambasingi, Tajangi, and Rajupakalu areas, during which he reviewed agricultural activities and development works being taken up in the region.

At Lambasingi, he inspected strawberry cultivation and also visited farms where zucchini, broccoli, and floriculture crops are being grown using modern farming practices. He sought details from officials on the investment involved, marketing support, and the yields being realised by farmers.

In Tajangi, Mr. Singla visited groundnut plots spread across 700 acres, cultivated during the current rabi season under the Agriculture Department. He interacted with farmers to understand their concerns, and later distributed black gram and groundnut seeds, cycle weeders, and neem oil.

At Rajupakalu, he visited the Lambasingi Farmers Producers Group facility and inspected the solar dryer and cold storage units. He also reviewed the functioning of flour mills and units producing pickles and chips, being run with subsidies from the ITDA and the Horticulture Department. He observed that providing better market access for tribal produce would help enhance farmers’ incomes.

Expressing satisfaction with the progress, Mr. Singla instructed officials to continue supporting farmers at the field level and ensure sustained follow-up. He later returned to Visakhapatnam.

Officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry departments, along with the Lead Bank Manager and other allied departments, participated in the visit.