There is a need for raising awareness among the farming community about crop diversification and shifting to horticultural crops for sustainable income, said Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath.

Taking part in the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting at the Collectorate in the city on Thursday (June 25), Mr. Sivanath said farmers would be encouraged to shift to horticultural crops by linking these to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

During the meeting, the MP reviewed the implementation of several Union and State government schemes in the district, including the MGNREGS, Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM-Kisan, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. He said the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) will be launched on July 1.

The MP said farmers have received benefits worth ₹494.75 crore through 22 installments of the PM-Kisan scheme.

Efforts are being made to promote district’s industrial development, while attention is also being given to developing roads leading to agricultural fields. The MP, District Collector G. Lakshmisha, Jaggayyapeta MLA Sriram Rajagopal and various department officials also discussed new projects related to housing, railway, healthcare and others.

Later, addressing the media, the MP said special focus is being placed on national highway and railway projects to ensure their speedy completion. He said steps are being taken to find a permanent solution to prevent the flooding of the Budameru rivulet.