Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan will visit Musunuru in Eluru district on Monday to launch a new popcorn maize hybrid seed and felicitate farmers, according to an official statement. The programme will be held at the Gourmet Popcornica Factory, where he is also scheduled to address farmers, agricultural stakeholders and other participants. The visit comes as efforts to strengthen India’s domestic popcorn maize production gain attention.
According to the Vice-President’s Secretariat, Radhakrishnan will launch what has been described as India’s first non-GMO, high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid seed. The event will also include the felicitation of farmers associated with popcorn maize cultivation. The initiative is expected to highlight the role of improved seed technology and market-linked agriculture in supporting farmers and strengthening the domestic popcorn supply chain.
The programme at Musunuru is linked to the growing popcorn maize sector in Andhra Pradesh. Gourmet Popcornica has been working with farmers to develop popcorn maize cultivation in India and build a value chain covering seed, cultivation and processing. The company has said it works with thousands of farmers across multiple states, while its operations in Andhra Pradesh have helped establish the crop as a specialised agricultural activity.
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Radhakrishnan has previously recognised Gourmet Popcornica’s contribution to maize farming and farmer livelihoods. In a letter issued in June, he expressed confidence that efforts in the sector could help India achieve popcorn maize self-sufficiency and eventually emerge as an exporter of premium-quality popcorn maize. The company has said its work is aimed at strengthening the domestic value chain and creating more predictable market opportunities for farmers.
The Vice-President’s Andhra Pradesh visit follows his recent engagement with young civil servants in Uttarakhand. At the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, he stressed that public leadership should be guided by character, integrity and ethical decision-making. He also urged officers to ensure development reaches the last mile and to use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain, to improve public service delivery.
The Musunuru programme is therefore expected to combine recognition of farmers with a focus on agricultural innovation and domestic production. Radhakrishnan will interact with stakeholders involved in the sector and formally unveil the new hybrid seed during the visit. The event is scheduled for August 24 and is expected to draw attention to the potential of specialised maize cultivation and stronger farmer-market linkages in Andhra Pradesh.
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