Mango farmers urged to reduce chemical use for better yields

Speakers at a training programme organised under project ‘Mango Unnati’ initiative gave a clarion call to the farming community to ensure rational use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides for optimal quality of mango production.

Tirupati Rashtriya Seva Samithi (RASS), in collaboration with the Coca-Cola Foundation, New Delhi, conducted the programme at RASS Seva Nilayam here on Thursday, as part of a sustained campaign to achieve high-quality yields in ‘Totapuri’ mango variety. Totapuri mangoes are cultivated extensively across 20 mandals in combined Chittoor district.

RASS general secretary S. Venkataratnam said that the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides was resulting in poor quality produce, which was subsequently depriving them of fair market prices.

Stressing on the need to follow scientific management practices and plant protection measures recommended by scientists, he opined that the use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides would significantly bring down the dependence on chemicals.

Later, he distributed nutrient kits containing Multi-K, bio-fertilisers, Pongamia oil and ‘Mango special’ micronutrient mixtures to 100 farmers for conducting demonstrations at their fields.

Scientists from the RASS Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) offered tips to the progressive farmers from Rompicherla, Pulicherla, Penumuru, Yerravaripalem, Chinnagottigallu, Vedurukuppam and Puttur mandals of combined Chittoor district.