Rythu Mungitlo Shashtravethalu - Scientists at Farmers Foreground, Dharur (v), vikarabad (dist), organized by ARS, Tandur on 05-05-2025

The state-level agricultural awareness campaign titled " RYTHU MUNGITLO SHASHTRAVETHALU - SCIENTISTS AT FARMERS FOREGROUND" was formally inaugurated at the Rythu Vedika in Dharur mandal of Vikarabad district under the esteemed leadership of Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Sri Gaddam Prasad Kumar and Agriculture Minister Sri Tummala Nageswara Rao. This significant outreach programme is scheduled to be held across the state from May 5 to June 13, with the aim of educating farmers about best agricultural practices, input management, resource conservation, and the latest developments in sustainable farming. Addressing the gathering, Speaker Sri Gaddam Prasad Kumar emphasized the urgent need to conserve irrigation water, stressing that it is a precious resource that must be preserved for future generations. He encouraged farmers to adopt water-saving practices and technologies to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability and secure livelihoods. Agriculture Minister Sri Tummala Nageswara Rao, in his address, advised farmers to minimize the use of urea fertilizer to reduce input costs and maintain soil health. He pointed out that overuse of chemical fertilizers not only affects the soil but also increases the financial burden on farmers. Furthermore, he urged farmers to consider cultivating oil palm, a crop with high commercial value, which he said could lead to substantial economic returns when managed properly. Prof. Aldas Janaiah, Vice Chancellor, PJTAU, encouraged farmers to choose improved crop varieties that are region-specific and high-yielding. He stressed the importance of timely consultations with agricultural scientists and adherence to technical recommendations to ensure enhanced crop productivity and resilience against pests and diseases. Sri Kodanda Reddy, Chairman of the Agriculture Commission, urged farmers to plant more trees to protect and enrich the environment. He also stressed the need to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and instead promote organic farming practices to maintain soil health and ecological balance. His message focused on adopting farming systems that are environmentally friendly and economically viable. Agriculture Commissioner Sri Gopi reiterated the importance of reducing urea usage in farming. He also informed the farmers about the Central Government’s initiative for farm registration, urging all farmers to enroll to avail of various benefits, including subsidies and crop insurance schemes. Agriculture Commission Member Sri Sunil highlighted the importance of land ownership and the legal rights of farmers, making special reference to the Bhu Bharati Act. He explained that farmers must be aware of their rights regarding land usage, title clarity, and how to safeguard their property legally. During the event, progressive farmers Sri Narayana and Sri Narasimha Reddy shared their farming methods and success stories, inspiring fellow farmers with practical insights and field-level innovations. Their experiences emphasized how small changes in cultivation practices can lead to significant improvements in income and sustainability. Dr. C. Sudhakar, Associate Director of Research, RARS, Palem, provided a comprehensive overview of the programme, setting the context for the day's events. He highlighted the objectives of the initiative, emphasizing its importance in addressing key challenges faced by farmers in the Southern Telangana Zone. Dr. Sudhakar underlined the role of research and extension in bridging knowledge gaps and improving productivity. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts among scientists, extension officers, and farmers to make agriculture more sustainable and profitable. His address laid the foundation for the technical discussions and interactions that followed, encouraging all participants to engage actively in the sessions. Dr. C. Sudha Rani, Principal Scientist (Agronomy) and Head of ARS, Tandur, spoke on the importance of adopting cost-effective and sustainable agricultural practices. She strongly advocated for minimizing the use of urea to reduce farming costs and protect soil health, cautioning that excessive nitrogen application leads to long-term soil degradation. Emphasizing the benefits of crop rotation, she explained how this practice helps in breaking pest and disease cycles while enhancing soil fertility. Dr. Sudha Rani encouraged farmers to shift toward diversified cropping systems that provide stable incomes and improve resource use efficiency. Her message focused on achieving economic sustainability through eco-friendly and scientifically sound agronomic practices. Dr. Y. Chandra Mohan, Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding), RRC, ARI, highlighted the urgent need to conserve irrigation water for the benefit of current and future generations. He emphasized that water is a critical and increasingly scarce resource in agriculture, and called for the adoption of efficient irrigation methods such as drip and sprinkler systems. Dr. Chandra Mohan also recommended cultivating drought-tolerant crop varieties to reduce dependence on water and ensure productivity during dry spells. He stressed that conscious water management should become a priority in every farmer’s field plan. His message was a call for sustainability through responsible and strategic use of natural resources. Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna, Scientist (Plant Breeding), IBT, delivered a dual message focusing on environmental stewardship and farmer rights. She encouraged farmers to plant more trees as a long-term investment in protecting the environment and enhancing farm biodiversity. Agroforestry, she said, can serve as a buffer against climate variability and contribute to sustainable livelihoods. In addition, Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna stressed the importance of maintaining receipts and records of all agricultural transactions. These documents, she noted, are crucial for resolving disputes and claiming compensation during crop losses under insurance or relief schemes. Dr. T. Laxman, Coordinator, DAATTC, Tandur, played a pivotal role in organizing and facilitating the event. He ensured effective coordination among the participating scientists, extension personnel, and farmers, enabling seamless conduct of the sessions. Dr. Laxman underscored the importance of technology transfer and timely dissemination of research findings to the farming community. He highlighted DAATTC’s role as a vital link between agricultural research institutions and farmers. His efforts contributed significantly to making the programme interactive, practical, and regionally relevant. Dr. T. Rajeshwar Reddy, Scientist (Plant Pathology), ARS, Tandur, delivered a strong message on the responsible use of plant protection chemicals. He advised farmers to avoid indiscriminate pesticide use and instead adopt need-based applications guided by economic threshold levels. Highlighting the adverse effects of overuse, such as pest resistance, resurgence, and environmental harm, he emphasized the importance of protecting soil health and beneficial organisms. Dr. Rajeshwar Reddy advocated for integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) as a comprehensive strategy that balances productivity with ecological safety. His insights aimed at promoting a scientific and sustainable approach to plant protection in agriculture. The programme witnessed active participation from Vikarabad District Collector Sri Prateek Jain, District Agriculture Officer Sri Mohan Reddy, scientists from the Agricultural University, officials from the Department of Agriculture, agriculture students, and a large gathering of farmers from various villages. The event served as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, awareness creation, and motivation, aligning with the broader goal of transforming agriculture in Telangana through grassroots-level engagement and scientific outreach.

1. Issues raised by the farmers and discussed during the programme
1. High input costs
Rising prices of fertilizers, pesticides, and labour.
Need for reducing urea usage and adopting cost-effective practices.
2. Water scarcity and irrigation problems
Erratic rainfall and lack of proper irrigation facilities.
Emphasis on water conservation and micro-irrigation.
3. Declining soil fertility
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers without soil testing.
Promotion of soil testing, crop rotation, and organic manures.
4. Lack of awareness on government schemes
Confusion about crop insurance, subsidies, and registration.
Importance of farmer registration and scheme accessibility explained.
5. Need for timely agri-advisory services
Delays in pest/disease alerts and weather forecasts.
Encouragement to use mobile apps, helplines, and extension services.
2. Farmers’ expectations from the University
• Quality seed
• New technologies
• Development of high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties
• pply of organic fertilizers (PSB, Azotobacter etc.), Biological control agents (Trichoderma viride, Tricho cards, Metarhizium, Beauveria, Bt etc.)
• Regular/need based/ Crop stage-based capacity building programmes on various themes
• Encourage farmers to cultivate horticultural crops.
• Support for market access and value addition
• Timely and practical advisory services