The district administration has launched a major exercise to identify mango growers in Chittoor and strengthen climate preparedness measures amid concerns over the possible impact of El Nino on agriculture and horticulture crops.

Addressing a review meeting with the officials here on Thursday, District Collector Sumit Kumar directed them to immediately start field-level verification of mango cultivation across the district and submit a report to ensure that subsidies reach only genuine beneficiaries.

Speaking to the media, the Collector said that the initiative was significant for Chittoor, one of Andhra Pradesh’s leading horticulture hubs, where mango cultivation supports thousands of farming families.

“For this season, top priority is given to reviewing the progress of mango procurement, e-Crop registration and implementation of farmer welfare schemes. Agriculture, Horticulture and Marketing department officials were instructed to intensify awareness campaigns on climate-resilient farming practices and crop insurance coverage,” Mr. Sumit Kumar said.

The Collector further directed mandal-level teams and Rythu Seva Kendra personnel to conduct village-wise verification of mango growers. Every registration must be matched with e-Crop records and backed by field inspections wherever necessary, he said.

“Officials should not rely solely on digital records while identifying beneficiaries. Farmers cultivating mango without e-Crop registration should be assisted in completing the process under the prescribed norms,” the Collector said.

During the review meeting, the Collector examined the schemes relating to farm ponds, micro-irrigation, weed mats and crop insurance. He instructed officials to accelerate e-Crop registrations so that all eligible farmers, including tenant cultivators and non-loanee farmers, are enrolled in weather-based crop insurance schemes and the ‘PM Fasal Bima Yojana’ to minimise losses arising from adverse weather conditions.

Published - July 23, 2026 06:57 pm IST