Telangana Government Supports Alternative Crops in Kharif Season

Hyderabad: Due to a paddy glut, the State government will support and encourage farmers to plant alternative crops such as cotton, chili, red grams, sunflower and watermelon in the upcoming Kharif season.

Rabi paddy cultivation was reduced from around 50 lakh acres to 35 lakh acres largely through the efforts of the State government. As a result, officials have been directed to develop a special action plan for profit-generating crops. On Tuesday, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held an agricultural review at Pragathi Bhavan and made this decision.

The Chief Minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the Union government regressive farm policies, which he said have become impediments to the growth of agriculture in the country, and vowed that the State government would work hard for the sector’s development and farmers’ welfare.

“The threat of soil quality degradation is very real if paddy cultivation is continued year after year,” officials told the Chief Minister, citing scientific studies.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, China has increased its requirement for Telangana cotton. Telangana cotton is also selling well in the market. In light of this, Rao directed officials to encourage farmers to grow cotton. Red chili is also high in demand, as it is sold in the open market for Rs 42,000 per quintal.

Red grams and sunflowers are also in high demand. These crops will be promoted as viable substitutes for paddy.

Paddy retail outlets

The state has established 6,983 procurement centers so far. Paddy procurement began in 32 centers, with 1,200 tones procured to date. 

Kharif Season

Crops that are planted during the southwest monsoon season are called Kharif or monsoon crops. These crops are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season around the end of May to early June and are harvested post the monsoon rains beginning October. Rice, maize, pulses such as urad, moong dal, and millets are among the key Kharif crops.