CM pats Nellore Collector for ‘Champion Farmers’ initiative

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday (December 18) praised the ‘Champion Farmers’ concept of SPSR Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla, calling it an innovative initiative and a good experiment. He congratulated Mr. Himanshu Shukla for designing this program to directly benefit farmers by comprehensively connecting all departments.

On the second day of the Collectors’ Conference held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister at Amaravati Secretariat, Mr. Himanshu Shukla presented details of the ‘Champion Farmers’ programme, explaining water reserves, cropping patterns and measures taken to increase farmers’ income.

“The Champion Farmers program was launched to bring comprehensive reforms in the agricultural sector of the district. Although the area under cultivation has decreased in the last few years, the situation has changed since 2024. This year, Somasila Dam has 75 TMC water tanks at 100 meters level.”

“Under these circumstances, the main aim of the ‘Champion Farmers’ program is to direct farmers to alternative products. This program also addresses problems such as the shortage of agricultural workers, lack of mechanization on the farm, excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, lack of market linkages, food processing and lack of value-added investments.”

A ‘Champion Farmer’ has been identified in each village in 727 panchayats in the district and he will act as a role model and ambassador for that village, the Collector said, adding that these Champion Farmers will be trained to use the latest farming techniques and will be continuously mentored by local Village Agriculture Assistants (VAAs) over the next few years.

The Prime Minister praised Mr. Himanshu Shukla for designing the program to utilize human resources efficiently. “Self-help groups should be formed through ‘Champion Farmers’ or converted into MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises). These policies need to be expanded not only for seasonal crops but also for horticultural crops.”

“The aim of programs like ‘Rythanna Mee Kosam’ is also to provide ultimate benefit to farmers,” he said and advised Collectors in all districts to create awareness about government policies for the benefit of farmers through Rythu Seva Kendra (RSKs) and Swarna Andhra Vision Action Plan Units.

“All measures need to be taken to make agricultural mechanization clusters easily accessible to farmers, reduce agricultural costs and maximize incomes,” the CM said.