e-cropping: Tech-savvy Andhra govt to launch app for farmers; start drone survey

Amaravati: Agriculture department is all set to launch an app for e-cropping next week. This follows the beginning of the Kharif season in the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, while reviewing the progress in the agriculture department, set a deadline of August 31 for the e-cropping process. He instructed officials to start a social audit by September.

"By this month-end, the e-cropping process has to be completed and by September first week, the social audit process should begin. If we allow the delays then that will lead to tampering in the system thus allowing leakages and corruption," he said.

The officials briefed the CM that over 50% of the cultivation process has been completed. Of the 36.82 lakh hectares of agricultural land, farmers have already sown their crops on 19.68 lakh hectares of land. Jagan said village agriculture assistants shall ensure the e-cropping process is completed on war-footing.

"The number of villages that come under each RBK is less. So, each VAA and VRO should take the onus and complete the e-cropping process at the earliest. Also, once the e-cropping process is done, a physical acknowledgment has to be given to the farmers," the CM, said.

As instructed by the CM, the village agriculture assistant and village revenue officer will have to jointly verify and approve the documents uploaded for e-cropping. The farmer however will have to submit an e-KYC or e-Know Your Crop to update their cultivation.

The agriculture department has also laid a roadmap for drone surveys. Special drone CHCs will be set up and a trained pilot will conduct the survey.