Agriculture Commission Chairman Kodanda Reddy and other members of the commission presented a comprehensive report prepared by the Agriculture Commission on the need for crop diversification in the state to Agriculture Minister Tummale Nageswara Rao at the Secretariat on Friday.
The report highlighted the need for the government to encourage farmers to use alternative crops as most of the growers in Telangana are currently dependent on paddy and cotton cultivation. It proposed several measures to promote horticulture crops, pulses, millets and oilseeds in line with market demand and changing needs of agriculture.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that nearly 1.3 million acres are under cultivation in the state during Kharif and Rabi seasons. He directed officials of the agriculture and horticulture department to prepare an action plan to shift at least 13 thousand acres to horticulture, pulses, millets and oilseeds cultivation in the next three years.
Mr. Tummala said farmers would benefit if crop diversification plans were in line with market demand and regional as well as national requirements, ensuring remunerative prices for their produce.
He also emphasized the expansion of oil palm cultivation. He said while oil palm cultivation was newly introduced in 45,000 acres this year, officials should prepare plans to expand it to one lakh acres next year.
Emphasizing the need for changes in the Central Seed Act, the minister said the existing law lacks clarity on compensation for farmers who suffer losses due to spurious seeds. He demanded that the state governments along with the Center should also have corresponding powers in regulating the seed sector.
After reviewing the preparations for the upcoming Kharif season, the minister directed the agriculture department officials to maintain sufficient reserve stock of urea in the state till the end of May as transplanting activities are likely to start in the first week of June. He also urged the Center to allocate and supply 90% of the urea produced at the Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited plant to Telangana.
Seed Corporation Chairman Anvesh Reddy, Agriculture Minister Surendra Mohan, Agriculture Director Gopi and Horticulture Director Yasmeen Basha were among those present.
Published – 09 May 2026 18:33 IST
