Rice, cotton on 50L acres each: State crop limit

A meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has decided that paddy should be cultivated in a regulated manner over 50 lakh acres, beginning from this monsoon season. Telangana Sona variety will be grown on 10 lakh acres.

It has also been decided to announce what crops must be cultivated in which areas and to what extent. Rythu Bandhu benefits will be offered to farmers who cultivate only crops as directed by the state government. MSP will also be offered only for these crops.

A decision has been taken to cultivate cotton on 50 lakh acres and red gram on 10 lakh acres.

The government has also decided to grow vegetables on farmlands, which are close to urban areas. The government will suggest to farmers which vegetable varieties should be grown in which area and to what extent.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Rao said the government had taken a firm decision to regulate cultivation of crops with the sole aim of benefiting farmers. He wanted farmers to cultivate crops as suggested by the government from upcoming Vanakalam (Kharif).

He recalled the popular saying, ‘Ammabothe adavi, konabothe korivi (If we want to sell, it is forest, if we want to buy it is dust)’. If one wants to sell the crop, there are no buyers and if one wants to buy agriculture produce, prices are sky high. This situation has been prevalent for several years,” he pointed out.

The state government has decided to act tough against those selling spurious and fake seeds. The government fears that there is a chance of fake and spurious cotton and red chilli seeds coming into the market. Flying squads will be deployed throughout from Wednesday. The intelligence wing will also keep tabs. PD Act will be booked against those making and selling fake and spurious seeds.

The government has decided to set up a new Seed Regulatory Authority. Since it has been decided that crops as identified by the government should be cultivated, seeds of crops identified by the government will henceforth be sold. A decision has been taken to revamp the agriculture department in tune with the New Comprehensive Agriculture Policy. The government has instructed the Agriculture University to conduct more research on crops to be cultivated in the state.

He observed that while farmers are not getting remunerative prices, people are shelling out huge amounts to purchase essential commodities. He emphasised on the need to rethink and come up with a new strategy to making agriculture profitable for farmers.

Mr Rao said, “The main reason why farmers are not getting competitive price for their produce is that all of them are cultivating the same crops. I have not been saying that farmers should go in for the crops that have demand in market only now. I have been saying this since when I was a transport minister 20 years ago.”

He said. “I have several times told PM Narendra Modi and then agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh about crop pattern and crop colonies on many occasions. There is no option left other than this. The practice of everyone cultivating the same crops should go.”

He said, “Unfortunately, none of the political parties, which have led governments in India in the past, have made any attempts on improving agriculture. However, the Telangana state government has been making numerous efforts to improve the condition of farmers. Besides resolving all pending problems, we are bringing reforms to change the entire manner in which cultivation is taken up.”

Mr Rao reiterated that there was no other option but promote alternative crops through crop colonies to ensure survival of farmers in the country.