NITI Aayog has selected Kotapally mandal of Mancherial district (erstwhile Adilabad) in Telangana State and Chincholi Taluka of Kalaburagi district in Karnataka State for implementation of SC Sub Plan. The action plan has been initiated from 2018-19. In this context, ICAR-CRIDA has developed an action plan with the following objectives:

• a) Enhancing livelihood and nutritional security in the farming system through the introduction of improved varieties of suitable crop


• b) Demonstration of improved technology/ interventions for agricultural in major field and horticulture crops and livestock (poultry) for livelihood improvement of SC farmers


• c) Development of household based other off-farm activities including backyard farming/ kitchen gardening supported by technological innovations for income diversification


• d) Organizing training programmes/exposure visit related to improved technology interventions

ICAR-CRIDA is implementing SC Sub Plan at Kotapally Mandal, Mancherial district, Telangana State. Under skill development-cum-exposure visit, a total of 30 SC farmers from Kotapally mandal participated in International Conference on "Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges & Opportunities" during 22-24, December, 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad. Farmers visited different stalls including fertilizers, pesticides, KVKs, ICAR institutes, irrigation system etc., and gained knowledge about the latest and cost-effective technologies. Later, farmers visited Hayathnagar Research Farm and they were exposed to different dryland agricultural technologies such as farm machinery workshop, water harvesting structures, chrysanthemum varietal demonstration, dragon fruit cultivation, livestock interventions, FATE and CTGC facility, bamboo plantations, solar pumping system etc. Farmers also attended National Farmer's Day known as "Kisan Diwas" on 23rd December, 2022 under Swachhta Pakhwada programme at CRIDA main office & Hayathnagar Research Farm. Dr. S.S. Balloli, PS & Head In-charge (PME) explained about the importance of Farmers' Day. Later farmers shared their experiences with other farmers about the inputs provided under SCSP such as improved variety of pulse seeds, power sprayers, brush cutters, manual weeders, poultry birds, fingerlings, vegetables seed kits for kitchen garden, tarpaulins for farm produce etc. Farmers also interacted with the scientists from CRIDA and other ICAR institutes, industry personals, FPO people, application of drone technology in agriculture etc., which helped them in solving various problems faced by them. Dr. T.V. Prasad, Nodal officer SCSP and Er. Shailesh Borkar, SRF coordinated the program.