Take up natural farming, MLA and Collector tell farmers in Srikalahasti - The HinduPublished - June 18, 2026 01:18 pm IST - TIRUPATISrikalahasti MLA Bojjala Venkata Sudheer Reddy and District Collector S. Venkateswar operate a hand transplanter in a paddy field at Vedaam village in Srikalahasti constituency of Tirupati district on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Special ArrangementSrikalahasti 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.శ్రీకాళహస్తి నియోజకవర్గ పరిధిలోని పలు గ్రామాలలో ఈరోజు అధికారులతో కలిసి క్షేత్రస్థాయిలో విస్తృతంగా పర్యటించడం జరిగింది.వ్యవసాయ రంగంలో సాంకేతికతను పెంచుతూ, రైతన్నలకు సాగు ఖర్చులు తగ్గించేలా తీసుకొచ్చిన నూతన నాటు యంత్రాల పనితీరును మరియు ఆధునిక విత్తన పద్ధతులను అధికారులతో కలిసి… pic.twitter.com/fFMmgfSXUU— Bojjala Sudhir Reddy (@BojjalaSudhir) June 18, 2026Ms. 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.Published - June 18, 2026 01:18 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }