TS set to steal rice bowl tag from AP
The Telangana government has plans to steal the rice bowl tag being held now by its sibling state of Andhra Pradesh. The Agricultural Action Plan–2015-16 prepared by the Telangana Agricultural department says that under the plan steps are being taken to cultivate paddy in 32 lakh hectares out of 62 lakh hectares to be brought under sowing area in both Khariff and Rabi seasons.
Action plan to produce 68 lakh tonnes of paddy this year
Hyderabad: The Telangana government has plans to steal the rice bowl tag being held now by its sibling state of Andhra Pradesh. The Agricultural Action Plan–2015-16 prepared by the Telangana Agricultural department says that under the plan steps are being taken to cultivate paddy in 32 lakh hectares out of 62 lakh hectares to be brought under sowing area in both Khariff and Rabi seasons. It targets to produce 68 lakh tonnes of paddy as against 45 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 season.
The officials told The Hans India that it would be the highest-ever target in Telangana region in the last 10 years. The target set by the AP government in paddy production was only 65 lakh tonnes this year. After the bifurcation of state, Telangana joined Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Haryana as one of the highest paddy producing states in the country.
On the other hand, AP has slipped in paddy cultivation. The officials said under the plan, 46.96 lakh hectares would come under sowing area in the Khariff season and in the Rabi it would be around 15.22 lakh hectares. The total foodgrain production is estimated at 115.7 lakh tonnes as against 107 lakh tonnes last year.
One of the main reasons for increasing the target of paddy production this year is the improvement in power situation in the state. All the 20 lakh agricultural pumpsets would be provided power both the seasons and ensure that farmers sow paddy in a big way.
The fertile lands in Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Nalgonda districts would be brought under irrigation in two seasons through pumpsets as well as canal water facility, the officials said. After paddy, jowar, soya bean, cotton and maize crops will be promoted in the farming areas.
The action plan, which has been forwarded to the state government for its consent, also calls for making a plea to the Centre for the increase of fertilizer quota to the state which helps meet the demand for the increased paddy cultivation. However, the target in paddy cultivation would be achieved only when the climatic condition is congenial, the action plan said.
By:Patan Afzal Babu
