Vivek urges farmers to adopt less water-intensive crops amid groundwater decline
Hyderabad: Labour, Employment, Factories and Mines Minister Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy urged farmers to cultivate less water-intensive crops as declining rainfall and falling groundwater levels threatened agricultural activities across Telangana.
Speaking at an integrated livestock development camp in Ramchandrapuram village of Narsapur mandal on Monday, November 9, the minister stressed the importance of crop diversification. He advised farmers to plan cultivation according to available water resources and avoid excessive dependence on water-intensive crops.
Vivek attributed the decline in groundwater levels to reduced rainfall associated with the El Niño phenomenon. He said groundwater levels across Telangana had already fallen by an estimated three metres. Moreover, he warned that groundwater levels could decline further, making careful water management essential for agricultural activities.
Vivek recommends less water-intensive crops
The minister cautioned farmers against depending heavily on paddy cultivation because of its substantial water and electricity requirements. Instead, he encouraged them to adopt less water-intensive crops suited to prevailing water availability.
“El Niño is a natural phenomenon whose impact cannot be fully controlled, but its risks can be mitigated through proactive measures,” Vivek said. He emphasised that farmers should adjust cultivation practices to minimise the impact of changing rainfall patterns and declining groundwater reserves.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted crop diversification as an important measure for managing limited water resources. He urged the farming community to consider available water supplies before selecting crops for cultivation.
Animal husbandry can supplement farmers’ income
Vivek also encouraged farmers to take up animal husbandry alongside conventional agricultural activities. He said livestock rearing could provide supplementary income and reduce dependence on earnings from crop cultivation alone.
Meanwhile, Medak MP Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao and Narsapur MLA Sunitha Lakshma Reddy attended the programme organised by the Animal Husbandry Department. During the camp, officials distributed deworming kits and preventive medicines for foot-and-mouth disease among local cattle and sheep rearers. The programme focused on livestock development and preventive animal healthcare measures.
Addressing water management priorities, Vivek said the government would give top priority to using Singur project waters for drinking water requirements in Medak district. He emphasised the importance of meeting the district’s drinking water needs amid concerns over declining groundwater levels.
Additionally, his call for less water-intensive crops formed part of his appeal for farmers to adapt agricultural practices to available resources. The minister reiterated the need to combine crop diversification with animal husbandry to support farming households.