The Integrated farming system taken up by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to double the income of farmers in the next five-year period with an outlay of Rs.2 crore was formally launched by Telangana cooperative apex bank chairman K Ravinder Rao, NABARD general manager Toolika Pankaj and AGM R. Ravi Babu in Choppadandi mandal on Tuesday.

 

The first pilot project under the umbrella programme on natural resource management (UPNRM) was taken up in the country by the District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB) to benefit 150 small and marginal farmers of Choppadandi mandal. Each farmer would be provided with financial assistance to the tune of Rs.1.2 lakh to Rs.1.5 lakh.

The farmers would be encouraged to take up pulses as inter-crop along with main crop of maize and cotton, tank silt application for improving soil fertility, vegetable cultivation, bund plantation, fodder cultivation, milch animal rearing, sheep rearing, backyard poultry etc.

 

Various government departments would be tied with the project to encourage farmers in increasing their income. PACS Choppadandi official Padmakar Reddy, ADM Nageshwara Rao and others were also present on the occasion.