The Kuppam constituency, long represented by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is on the verge of transforming into an ‘Organic Kuppam.’ This area, primarily reliant on rainfall, boasts around 60,000 landholdings covering approximately 25,500 hectares, shared among 47,200 farmers.
Naidu is set to officially launch this initiative at Seegalapalli village, where the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, the agency spearheading natural farming efforts in the state, will sign agreements with various stakeholders during the event.
The objective of this program is to convert the entire Kuppam constituency to natural farming within the next five years. “Currently, 35-40 percent of the villages in the area already utilize natural farming techniques. This is the first time such an ambitious project has been undertaken on a constituency-wide scale. We hope to expand this initiative to other regions as well,” stated Vijay Kumar Thallam, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming), in an interview with businessline.
“We will reach out to every farmer in the constituency to encourage a shift to natural farming practices,” he added.
The Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) aims to engage at least 70 percent of farmers, 50 percent of arable land, and 20 percent of fallow land in the transition to natural farming by the 2028-29 agricultural year. The program will leverage successful models of developing and supporting self-help groups (SHGs) as it progresses.
“Our ultimate goal is to enhance crop yields, lower cultivation costs, and achieve higher profit margins through value addition. The constituency is strategically located near major cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tirupati,” he explained.
To capitalize on the significant demand for vegetables and horticultural products in these urban areas, the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha will promote the cultivation of vegetables, flowers, groundnuts, rice, and sericulture. Thallam emphasized that natural farming minimizes reliance on external inputs. He advised farmers to incorporate approximately 5 percent organic inputs. “Natural farming prioritizes enhancing soil biology. We encourage farmers to cultivate a variety of crops throughout the year since plants actually nurture the soil rather than the reverse,” he clarified.
He also noted that farmers will gain access to markets that will connect them with consumers of their products. “We plan to collaborate with reputable brands like NCOL (National Co-operative Organics Limited), 24 Mantra, Phalada, and BigBasket to create robust marketing pathways for organic products from Kuppam,” Thallam said.
The Rythu Sadhikara Samstha intends to appoint two Project Managers—one focused on agriculture and the other on horticulture—to oversee the implementation of this initiative.
