Tummala denies crop holiday in Telangana, urges farmers to ignore opposition claims

Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Saturday, October 31, rejected opposition claims about a crop holiday in Telangana. He clarified that the state government had imposed no restrictions on cultivation and urged farmers to disregard misleading political campaigns.

In an official statement, Tummala said the government had spent the past six months preparing agricultural strategies to address potential climate-related losses. The measures focused on protecting farmers against the possible effects of global El Niño weather patterns.

He explained that the Agriculture Department had anticipated possible water shortages and prepared an action plan. Accordingly, officials prioritised alternative crops, rain-fed cultivation and integrated cropping practices to reduce the risk of crop failure during later growth stages.

Crop holiday in Telangana ruled out amid El Niño concerns

Tummala said El Niño was a global weather phenomenon that affected rainfall patterns and groundwater levels worldwide. However, he maintained that the government’s agricultural planning did not amount to restrictions on farming.

Instead, the department was encouraging farmers to cultivate alternative crops requiring less water. The minister said this approach aimed to protect farmers’ investments and reduce potential losses arising from water scarcity.

He reiterated that opposition allegations about a crop holiday in Telangana were misleading. Moreover, he urged farmers not to believe political campaigns suggesting that the government had discouraged agricultural cultivation.

Meanwhile, field-level surveys were already underway across drought-affected mandals to assess agricultural conditions.

The minister said officials had received instructions to evaluate crop losses and provide farmers with real-time guidance. These assessments formed part of the government’s efforts to address agricultural risks associated with changing weather conditions.

Tummala maintained that the government’s strategy focused on crop diversification and water management rather than suspending cultivation.