September 19, 2023

Agriculture sector registers phenomenal growth in Telangana: Niranjan Reddy

Posted: Date Posted – 9:03 PM, Wed – Feb 16, 22

Hyderabad: Attributing the success of the agricultural sector to the relentless efforts of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Minister of Agriculture S Niranjan Reddy said the average growth of the agricultural sector in Telangana has been recorded at 15.8% over the past seven years, compared to a national average of 8.5% during the corresponding period. He sent his regards to Chandrashekhar Rao who will celebrate his 68th birthday on Thursday.

In a statement, Niranjan Reddy said the Chief Minister has implemented many programs for the welfare and development of farmers as well as the agricultural sector, making Telangana a model for others. He said the state has become the largest cotton grower on about 60 lakh acres as well as the second largest producer and buyer of paddy in the country. Paddy production has increased from 45 lakh tons in 2014 to three crore tons in 2021. Similarly, the cultivation area has increased from 1.34 crore acres in 2014 to 2.3 crore acres in 2021. Since the formation of the state, the state government has purchased paddy worth Rs 97,924 crore, he said.

The Minister of Agriculture pointed out that due to Chandrashekhar Rao’s vision, the state government has spent more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the construction of various irrigation projects and also improved the electricity infrastructure at an outlay of Rs 28,473 crore in addition to providing uninterrupted free power to all agricultural connections at an annual cost of Rs 10,500 crore. Additionally, the government has revived the reservoirs under the Kakatiya Mission which has ensured adequate irrigation water to the farmlands.

“So far nearly Rs 50,448.16 crore has been deposited in farmers’ bank accounts under the Rythu Bandhu scheme and agricultural loans worth Rs 17,244 crore have been cancelled. Thanks to all these efforts, the agricultural sector has grown beyond anyone’s imagination and resulted in an increase in per capita income by 103.46% from Rs 1,12,162 lakh in 2014-15 to Rs 2, 28,216 in 2020-21 itself,” he added.

Besides providing adequate seeds and fertilizers in advance through the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), Telangana is the only state to invoke the PD (Preventive Detention) Act against suppliers of adulterated seeds. The minister pointed out that the state government is also providing agricultural equipment and machinery at subsidized prices and increasing storage capacity from 4.17 lakh tons in 2013-2014 to 24.73 lakh tons in 2020-21. The state government is also promoting alternative crops, including oil palm cultivation, to increase farmers’ incomes.

“Telangana is making further progress in agriculture and related sectors and setting an example for others under the leadership of K Chandrashekhar Rao. I extend my birthday wishes to the Chief Minister on behalf of hundreds of thousands of farmers in Telangana,” he said.


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