A two-day farmers’ training programme on crop diversification concluded on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) at Kotamkonda village of Rudravaram mandal and Yallur village of Gospadu mandal in the district. The training programme was held to create awareness on sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.During the programme, the farmers were sensitised on the importance of crop diversification in the present climate change scenario and the need to reduce dependency on water-intensive rice cultivation. The participants were informed about suitable alternate crops to rice, particularly pulses and oilseed crops, which require comparatively less water and are more suitable under rainfed and moisture stress conditions.The farmers were also educated on the benefits of green manuring for improvement of soil fertility and soil health, soil test-based fertilizer application for balanced nutrient management, crop rotation practices for sustaining soil productivity and reducing pest and disease incidence, and Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) as an alternative approach for sustainable crop production, enhanced resource utilisation, and higher profitability.In view of the possible occurrence of El Niño conditions and the anticipated water scarcity, the farmers were advised to adopt less water-requiring crops and climate-resilient farming practices to minimise production risks and ensure sustainable livelihoods.The programme witnessed active participation and interaction from the farmers, and practical suggestions were provided based on local farming situations and resource availability.In this programme, Dr. M. Johnson, Associate Director of Research, RARS, Nandyal, Dr. B. Sahadeva Reddy, Principal Scientist and Project Investigator, RARS, Maruteru, Dr. K. Ashok Kumar, Principal Scientist (Agronomy), RARS, Nandyal, agriculture department officials and farmers participated. Published - May 26, 2026 06:57 pm IST