Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao called for Telangana horticulture research to reach farmers directly through modern technology, stronger extension services and closer institutional coordination.
The minister said universities, research centres and laboratories had conducted considerable research. However, its benefits had not reached farmers to the desired extent.
Tummala urged scientists, universities and the Horticulture Department to use smartphones and digital platforms to bridge this gap. He specifically suggested using videos, short films, social media and YouTube to communicate scientific findings to farmers.
The minister made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for a Horticultural Research Complex at Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural College. He described the proposed research complex as a historic milestone for Telangana’s horticulture sector.
Telangana horticulture research gains importance in farm economy
Tummala highlighted horticulture’s growing contribution to Telangana’s agricultural economy despite its relatively limited cultivation area. Horticultural crops occupied only about 6% of the state’s agricultural land, he said. However, they contributed nearly 26% of the gross agricultural value.
The minister put the sector’s contribution at around ₹30,346 crore. Therefore, he stressed the need to strengthen Telangana horticulture research and ensure that scientific developments reached farmers in usable forms.
Tummala also expressed concern over Telangana’s vegetable production deficit. He said the state faced a deficit of nearly 70% in vegetable production. Consequently, Telangana depended on supplies from other states to meet demand.
The minister called for stronger research, wider technology adoption and improved extension services to address the shortfall. Tummala directed officials to establish demonstration plots at every district and mandal headquarters.
The plots would promote high-demand horticultural crops and vegetables suitable for local requirements. Such demonstration facilities would also help take research findings from laboratories and universities into farmers’ fields.
The minister stressed the importance of stronger coordination among researchers, universities, the Horticulture Department and farming communities. He said closer collaboration would help improve agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ incomes.
Tummala maintained that scientific research would deliver its intended benefits only when farmers could use the findings in their fields. He therefore called for technology-driven dissemination alongside research, demonstrations and stronger extension services across Telangana.