Hyderabad: The Telangana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Commission on Saturday submitted a report to Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on the need for Telangana crop diversification.
Commission Chairman M. Kodanda Reddy and his team presented the report, which focused on reducing the State’s heavy dependence on paddy and cotton cultivation.
The report recommended measures to promote horticultural crops, pulses, millets and oilseeds across Telangana.
Speaking on the occasion, Tummala Nageswara Rao said paddy cultivation currently covered around 1.30 crore acres during the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
He directed Agriculture and Horticulture department officials to prepare an action plan to divert at least 13 lakh acres from paddy cultivation over the next three years.
Telangana crop diversification plan targets market demand
The Minister said the government should focus crop diversification efforts on crops with strong market demand.
He instructed officials to prepare plans that would help farmers shift towards profitable crops while ensuring better returns.
Tummala Nageswara Rao also reviewed the expansion of oil palm cultivation in the State.
He said Telangana introduced new oil palm cultivation across 45,000 acres this year. He directed officials to expand the cultivation area to one lakh acres next year.
The Minister stressed the need for proper planning and implementation to achieve the expansion targets.
Telangana crop diversification report seeks seed law changes
The Minister also called for amendments to the Seeds Act framed by the Central Government.
He said the present law lacked clarity on compensation for farmers who suffered losses because of spurious seeds.
Tummala Nageswara Rao demanded that State governments should receive greater powers in seed regulation along with the Centre.
The Agriculture Commission report highlighted the importance of crop diversification for improving farm sustainability and reducing overdependence on paddy and cotton cultivation.