Government Launched Special Programme to Encourage Farmers to Grow Cotton This Year

The state government has launched a special programme to encourage farmers to grow cotton this Kharif season. More than 2,615 crop colonies have been established throughout the state as a part of the scheme. 

Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy, along with certain MLAs and officials, recently held cotton awareness programmes in the districts of Rangareddy, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Khammam, and Mancherial.

An agricultural extension officer would be available at every Rythu Vedika at least once during the day, according to K Ramulu, Joint Director of Agriculture and Managing Director of TS Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited (TSAIDCL). Crop bookings will also be done online this time, and farmers will be able to contact the appropriate officials immediately.

According to Ramulu, Rythu Vedikas would hold seminars for 50-100 farmers in each village to educate them about scientific breakthroughs in agriculture and how they will benefit them in cultivating cotton.

The epidemic and accompanying lockdowns in key cotton-producing countries such as China, the Ukraine war, and the high quality of cotton manufactured in Telangana, according to the Minister, give a wonderful chance to the state's farmers.

According to the agriculture department, Farmers are also encouraged to plant cotton in high-density plantations, which can yield more than 2-3 quintals per acre. Another benefit of cultivating cotton is that the TSAIDCL already has stubble shredders available. The stubble can be formed into brick-sized masses and utilized as fire fuel in the pharmaceutical business, according to The New Indian Express story.

Export of Cotton Seeds to Boost Profit

The agriculture department is also considering exporting cotton seeds from the United States to boost output.

"The majority of land in Telangana is owned by tiny landholdings. Large swaths of land are required to accomplish a one-time harvest. "The seeds are also not available locally right now," said a scientist at Telangana State Agricultural University Professor Jayashankar.