Following FCI’s Decision, Telangana Focusing on Alternate Crops

Telangana is currently focusing on alternative crops. In a meeting held on Sunday, attended by the representatives of 36 seed companies as per the instructions of K Chandrashekhar Rao (Chief Minister of Telangana), Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar has urged the seed companies to procure and stock adequate quantities of seeds of alternate crops like – pulses and oilseeds and to make adequate seed stocks available to the farmers as FCI on 25^th October 2021 decided not to procure paddy in the summer season.  

The largest paddy-producing state is facing a big challenge in initiating a change in the cultivation pattern, following the FCI’s decision. 

Telangana state authorities are urging farmers to go for alternative crops and added that crops like – groundnut, green gram, black gram, Bengal gram, castor, bajra, sesamum and oilseeds have good potential in the state during summers.  

About 2,603 Rythu Vedikas to create awareness among farmers on alternative crops of summer season in the agriculture clusters. On 27^th – 29^th October, a rigorous campaign on alternate crops with the farmers and Agriculture Extension Officers will be conducted. 

“Due to the persistent efforts of Telangana government, farmers across the state were taking up alternate crops on a large scale”, said the Minister and added that “sufficient seed stocks have been made available at the field level”.  

The state government has constantly been encouraging the farmers to shift their focus from paddy cultivation to alternate crops which are on the market demand. In a review meeting, the Minister told that – “The majority of the farmers were opting for pulses and oilseeds. And, in tune with the demand, chana dal seeds are being made available to the farmers in adequate quantities”, and added – “as compared to the previous year, farmers were much more interested in cultivating millets, castor oil, sesame oil and mustard.” 

Approximately, 21 lakh farmers in the state grow paddy, which produces around 1.5 crore tons of coarse rice in two seasons every year. This rainy season, paddy is cultivated on 55 lakh acres of land in the state and a yield of around 1.40 crore tons is expected by the authorities. However, FCI is willing to purchase only 60 lakh metric tons out of that.