The districts of Alluri Sitarama Raju (7,566), Parvathipuram Manyam (6,317), and Annamayya (5,181) lead the charge, securing the top three positions in completion rating• These ponds enable farmers to cultivate long-term income-generating plants like papaya, banana, guava, and curry leaves
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh’s ambitious project to construct 1.55 lakh farm ponds has reached a significant milestone, with 50,000 ponds now completed. The districts of Alluri Sitarama Raju (7,566), Parvathipuram Manyam (6,317), and Annamayya (5,181) lead the charge, securing the top three positions in completion rating. Commissioner of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development VR Krishna Teja Mylavarapu highlighted the multifaceted benefits of farm ponds for farmers, calling them a ‘crop lifeline.’ He stated that these ponds enable farmers to cultivate long-term income-generating plants like papaya, banana, guava, and curry leaves. The stored water can also be utilised for spraying pesticides and even for pisciculture. Furthermore, he noted that constructing a farm pond in fields with borewells can increase groundwater levels, allowing farmers to cultivate larger areas.