Andhra ensures timely supply of seeds, fertilisers, irrigation water for kharif-2026

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu on Friday said the state government has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the timely supply of seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation water for the kharif-2026 season. The state government has put in place extensive arrangements to ensure that farmers receive adequate seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation water in time for the kharif-2026 season, said Atchannaidu in a press release.

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu on Friday said the state government has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the timely supply of seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation water for the kharif-2026 season. Reviewing preparedness for the cultivation season, the minister said the agriculture and irrigation departments are working with planning to ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience during kharif operations. ''The state government has put in place extensive arrangements to ensure that farmers receive adequate seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation water in time for the kharif-2026 season,'' said Atchannaidu in a press release. The minister said that adequate seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation water are being arranged for farmers, and the government is fully supporting the agriculture sector through planning. The agriculture minister said the State Seed Development Corporation will supply over 7.4 lakh quintals of seeds on subsidy during 2026–27, with a budget allocation of Rs 294 crore. According to the minister, around 93,000 quintals of green manure seeds will be supplied at a 50 per cent subsidy, while 30,000 quintals have already been procured and made ready for distribution through Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs). He said additional procurement of green manure seeds is underway through the Telangana State Seeds Development Corporation (TGSDC), Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL), National Seeds Corporation (NSC), and Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) to meet the remaining demand. Atchannaidu said 2.2 lakh quintals of groundnut seeds will be distributed at a 40 per cent subsidy, and supply through RSKs will begin from May 20, depending on weather conditions. He said over 1.6 lakh quintals of paddy seeds will be supplied on subsidy from May 15, while millets, pulses, and other seeds will be distributed through RSKs from June 15. The minister said every seed supplied through Andhra Pradesh Seeds is distributed only after quality testing in laboratories to ensure that farmers receive certified quality seeds. He noted that from 2025–26 onwards, the government is implementing a revised integrated scheme titled ''Support for Promotion of New Seed Varieties'' in place of the Rural Seed Production Scheme. Under the scheme, seed production of over one lakh quintals has been achieved so far, while a target of nearly 1.2 lakh quintals has been fixed for 2026–27, he added. The minister alleged that the erstwhile YSRCP government between 2019 and 2024 left pending dues of nearly Rs 477 crore to organisations supplying subsidised seeds during 2019–20 to 2023–24. However, he said the present government has already cleared payments relating to 2024–25, and payments for 2025–26 are also being processed. Atchannaidu said subsidies are continuing for several crops, including paddy, millets, pulses, Bengal gram, groundnut, sesame, and green manure seeds. He said paddy seed subsidy ranges between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per quintal, depending on the district, while tribal farmers in agency mandals are being provided up to a 90 per cent subsidy. According to the minister, up to 80 per cent special subsidy is also being extended during natural calamities. On fertiliser availability, Atchannaidu said the state has adequate stocks for the Kharif season, and farmers need not worry about shortages. He noted that against the total Kharif fertiliser requirement of over 18 lakh tonnes, around 3.4 lakh tonnes have already been allocated till May. The minister said the state had opening fertiliser stocks of 7.13 lakh metric tonnes as of April 1, while another 1.71 lakh metric tonnes had arrived subsequently. According to the minister, total fertiliser availability currently stands at 8.8 lakh tonnes, of which over one lakh tonnes have already been sold to farmers. He said the state presently has balanced fertiliser stocks of 7.7 lakh tonnes, including 2.4 lakh tonnes of urea, 94,000 tonnes of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), 35,000 tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MOP), 3.6 lakh tonnes of complex fertilisers, and 46,000 tonnes of Single Super Phosphate (SSP). Highlighting irrigation preparedness, Atchannaidu said the phased release of irrigation water across the state will begin from May 15 after reviewing reservoir storage, canal repairs, and cultivation requirements. The Minister said 51.6 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water is currently available under the Godavari Delta System, of which 38.5 TMC is required till June 30. Atchannaidu said North Andhra projects currently have water availability of 9.2 TMC, and canal maintenance works are progressing rapidly. He noted that five medium irrigation projects in Kadapa district currently have a storage of 3.905 TMC, and water release may begin from May 15. The minister said the possibility of releasing 7,000 cusecs daily from May 15 to June 15 for drinking water and initial cultivation needs is being examined. Highlighting irrigation coverage, Atchannaidu said irrigation water was supplied to 99.3 lakh acres during the 2025–26 Kharif season, with utilisation of 887.90 TMC of water. He added that irrigation water was supplied to 96.2 lakh acres during the 2024–25 Kharif season through projects including the Godavari Delta, Krishna Delta, Nagarjuna Sagar, Vamsadhara, Tadipudi, Srisailam Right Branch Canal (SRBC), and Tungabhadra.