Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Venkata Sudheer Reddy and District Collector S. Venkateswar said the State government would continue to encourage natural farming in a big way, and appealed to farmers to take up the natural way of growing crops.

During a visit to the three-acre farm of natural farmer A. Pushpa at Vedaam village in Srikalahasti mandal on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), the two watched the practices she had adopted in preparing seeds and in using natural pesticides such as solid and liquid Jeevamritam, made from cow-based products.

Ms. Pushpa gave a demonstration, mixing the seeds with ash and Jeevamritam to prevent pest attack, and then sowed them in the field.

Mr. Venkateswar asked her about the availability of fodder, soil fertility, the reduction in input cost from natural practices and the financial benefit she had gained.

He said the government would support natural farming, as it would bring down the cost of farming and also help protect the environment.

Distributing urea to farmers later, he said it was mandatory to apply for it through the APAIMS mobile app. He and Mr. Sudheer Reddy operated a hand-driven transplanter to replant the paddy crop, and urged farmers to take up mechanisation on a large scale to cut labour cost.

Market Committee Chairman Chenchiah Naidu, Revenue Divisional Officer Bhanuprakash Reddy, District Agriculture Officer Prasada Rao and Additional Director (Agriculture) Dhananjaya Reddy were also present.