Rythu Nestham Live Program (Episode-33 Date: 19.11.2024)

Rythu Nestam Live video conferencing 33rd episode was conducted live from Electronic Wing Studio of PJTAU on 19.11.2024 from 10.00 AM – 11.30 AM. The program started with the presentation of Dr. T. Prabhakar Reddy, Programme Co-ordinator, KVK, Palem. He has explained about the stubble burning and its effects on soil health and environmental pollution. Specifically he mentioned about the paddy and cotton stubbles burning in terms quantity across the state further it is converted in to monetary terms. According to the data presented by Dr. T. Prabhakar Reddy minimum 2 tonnes / acre/season stubble is being burnt in various crops especially paddy & cotton. Due to the stubble burning microbial population, organic carbon content & soil physical and chemical properties are significantly affected. Lack of microbes in soil nutrient cycles and its transformations will hamper drastically. Because of above mentioned negative effects soil may become unproductive and unhealthy there by productivity of the soil decline measurably. Also, he said above the percent of soil organic carbon in different textured soils and its loss due to stubble burning. Finally it is converted in to rupees 1500 crores worth of carbon per season due to burning. Later, he enlightened the farmers about various methods of stubble management in agriculture and its advantages by adopting crop residue incorporation in soil and its decomposition under specified conditions to get nutrient rich compost. Similarly, he gave the information on availability of machinery like stubble shredders and waste decomposers in the market for faster decomposition and for maintaining healthy soils. A progressive farmer. Sri. Devendar Reddy from Warangal district shared his experience about residue incorporation and its impact on soil health and soil productivity. He also mentioned about reducing the investment on chemical fertilizers. In this episode Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture Sri.Tummala Nageswara Rao also participated and enquired about Paddy and Cotton Procurement from farmers across state also he suggested the agriculture department officers to create awareness among the farming community on stubble burning and its negative effects on soil health, environment and human health. Also, instructed the departmental officials to encourage the farmers for adopting appropriate methods for management of crop residue to obtain positive results in agriculture. This programme concluded with discussion among scientists and farmers from different Rythu vedikas across the state on questions raised by the farmers. The programme was attended by Dr. M. Sreenivasulu, Coordinator of the Electronic Wing, along with his team from PJTAU and Officials from Directorate of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture and about 17,000 farmers from 566 Rythu Vedikas across the state.