Area under paddy up 162%

Paddy cultivation in Telangana state has set a new record this rabi.

As against the season normal of 5.33 lakh hectares, the sown paddy area shot up to 8.68 lakh hectares — a whopping 162 per cent increase due to to water available in reservoirs and tanks.

Agriculture minister P. Srinivas Reddy said the total area of all crops sown in the state was 15.36 lakh hectares against the normal of 12.09 lakh hectares. Last year it was 6.82 lakh hectares.

“The normal used to be 5.33 lakh hectares, but this rabi, it has touched 8.68 lakh hectares which is a record of sorts. This could be achieved due to proper utilisation of water. We have made arrangements for purchase of paddy,” Mr Srinivas Reddy told officials via a video conference.

Finance minister Etala Rajender and irrigation minister T. Harish Rao were also present.

Mr Harish Rao reviewed arrangements made for purchase of paddy from farmers with marketing department officials and advised them to see that farmers were not put to any inconvenience.

It was stated that about 64 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was expected at the market. Mr Harish Rao asked officials to identify government buildings and space for storage of paddy and also ensure purchase process is completed within 24 hours of the farmers bringing the produce to the market.

Meanwhile, a farmer, Mr Nagireddy from Raghavapuram, Palakurthi mandal, Jangaon district telephoned the Chief Minister and thanked him for his promise to provide free fertilisers from the next financial year.