Asifabad farmers heavily dependent on chemicals

Hyderabad: A research carried out by Osmania University (OU) scholars revealed alarming trends in intensive agricultural practices, including dependence on chemicals, in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district in the State.

The study revealed that farmers are heavily dependent on chemicals, which is 98.2 per cent, for farming in the district. Besides, there has been wide adoption of mono-cropping, which is 84.8 per cent, particularly paddy and cotton cultivation.

The research paper, titled ‘Unveiling the Detrimental Impacts of Intensive Chemical Use and Monoculture on Soil Health and Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land in Telangana’, observed a decline in traditional farming practices, with a shift towards mechanised methods (87.6 per cent).

The study also observed that there is growing scepticism among farmers regarding the effectiveness of livestock manure as a fertilizer. The paper, authored by scholars Srinivas Katherasala, Ram Shepherd Bheenaveni, Parandamulu Chinthakindi, Divya Vadlakonda, Nithyanandam Kummari and Sushmita Susan Badi, was based on a survey of 382 farmers.

According to the authors, the results underscored an urgent need for sustainable alternatives to current agricultural practices. The authors suggested a multifaceted approach to address issues, including promoting crop diversity, unwanted weed control mechanisms, balancing agricultural inputs, adopting integrated pest management techniques, reviving livestock integration and establishing robust monitoring systems.

The study also addressed the misconception among farmers that soil erosion is an uncontrollable natural phenomenon. In response, an innovative approach — curved and sloped buffer zone was devised, aimed at counteracting soil erosion and promoting long-term soil natural fertile