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Telangana Farmers Urged to Diversify Crops for Higher Income
11 May
Summary
- Farmers are advised to switch from monocropping to horticultural crops.
- Government to establish 'Vegetable Clusters' and farmer producer organizations.
- Financial incentives and insurance cover for alternative crops are proposed.
The Telangana Farmers' Commission has strongly advised the state government to promote crop diversification, encouraging a shift from monocropping towards horticultural crops such as vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, turmeric, and sugarcane. This recommendation aims to mitigate losses traditionally faced by farmers. The Commission has submitted a comprehensive 40-page report outlining these suggestions.
Key proposals include establishing 'Vegetable Clusters' and horticultural Farmer Producer Organizations, drawing inspiration from successful models in Maharashtra. The report also calls for price support and insurance coverage for alternative crops to incentivize farmers. Notably, the area under paddy has significantly increased to 1.27 crore acres in 2024-25, while vegetable cultivation has dropped drastically to 1 lakh acres.
To further encourage this transition, the Commission suggests that the state government consider offering financial incentives to farmers, similar to practices in Punjab and Haryana. Facilitating the establishment of processing units and post-harvest facilities for traditional crops like mangoes, turmeric, and chillies is also a priority. This strategic shift is expected to enhance farmer incomes and improve agricultural resilience.
