RySS Receives Marico Award for Promoting Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh

Over six lakh farmers have benefited from the country's largest natural farming initiative. "Natural farming practices have helped farmers save money because they don't need chemical fertilizers, while also improving consumer access to nutritious food," according to a RySS statement.

At a function held in Mumbai on Wednesday, Vijay Kumar Thallam, Executive Vice-Chairman of RySS, received the award instituted by the Marico Innovation Foundation established by Marico.

Kudambashree (Kerala SHG movement), Wipro Global Command Centre, Bharat Biotech, MV Foundation, and Titan are among the organisations that received the award.

About Rythu Sadhikara Samastha (RySS):

The Agriculture Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh launched the 'A.P Zero budget natural farming' programme in 2016. This programme builds on an earlier Rural Development Department of the State Government programme called A.P Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture. This was implemented from 2004 to 2014.

This precursor programme was a state-wide initiative that included both A.P. and Telangana. It was also taken up by the Women S.H.G s. Initially, it focused on non-chemical pest management, but later interventions focused on soil health improvement and water conservation.

Rythu Sadhikara Samstha was created as a not-for-profit company under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 to establish a single institutional mechanism for all farmer empowerment programmes, schemes, and activities, including welfare, growth, capacity enhancement, credit flow, monetary help, and allied empowerment activities.

 So, it is set up by the Andhra Pradesh Government, RySS leads the Andhra Pradesh Community managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme.