Nandyal celebrates ‘Eruvaka Pournami’ to kick-start agricultural season

‘Eruvaka Pournami’, marking the auspicious beginning of the agricultural sowing season, was held in a grand manner in Nandyal district on Monday. Nandyal MP Byreddy Shabari, Minister of Minorities N. Md. Farooq, Panyam MLA Gouru Charitha, Collector Rajakumari Ganiya and other officials participated in farming activities as part of the programme held at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) premises in Nandyal.

Ms. Shabari performed special rituals honouring mother earth, oxen, and agricultural implements. She personally operated the seed drill and tractor to plough the field. She participated in prayers for high yields and increased income for farmers this year. The MP also advised paddy farmers to opt for crops that require less water and to use intercropping methods to mitigate the impact of El Niño.

Meanwhile, Mr. Farooq took up the plough to till the land and addressed the farmers. He expressed hope that Eruvaka Pournami would bring new light into their lives and that the Kharif season would usher in prosperity and wealth. He assured the farmers that the government would provide all necessary support.

Ms. Rajakumari Ganiya, on the other hand, urged farmers across the district to cultivate drought-resistant crops and apply fertilizers based on soil test results. She announced that, starting this year, the supply of urea and DAP would be managed through the APAIMS application, ensuring that farmers receive only the exact quantities required for their crops. She cautioned that excessive use of urea would harm soil health and emphasised the importance of using urea and DAP fertilizers strictly according to actual needs.

Panyam MLA Ms. Charitha urged farmers to shift towards natural farming and cultivate a mix of three to five crops rather than a single crop as it would protect them from financial losses. She highlighted that natural farming helps preserve both soil health and human health.