Ministry of Agriculture publishes brochure on alternatives to paddy – The New Indian Express

Through Express news service

HYDERABAD: Without any guarantee that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would source paddy Rabi from farmers in the state, the Ministry of Agriculture’s mission is to divert farmers to alternative crops. Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy on Monday released documents highlighting alternative crops and urged farmers not to grow paddy in the Rabi that followed.

As part of the department’s efforts, a 40-page brochure titled “Yasangilo variki baduluga itara pantalu sagu cheddam” (growing crops other than paddy in Rabi) is widely distributed among farmers. “Rice farming in Kharif and also in Rabi does not guarantee crop diversity in the state. The Center has already announced that it will buy boiled rice. The diversity of crops will help improve soil fertility. So grow crops other than paddy in Rabi 2021-22, ”Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wrote in his foreword to the brochure.

The booklet explained that the area under rice increased from 34.92 lakh acres in 2014-15 to 1.06 crore in 2020-21. The expansion was due to the increased availability of water. Since there was a problem in purchasing paddy, the farmers would face problems, the booklet said. He also explained the management of ten other crops, including oilseeds. The government also wants farmers to grow vegetables.

Along with the brochure, the Department of Agriculture also released a document that listed the expected yield for each alternative crop. The seed varieties available for these alternative crops, crop duration and other details are also explained.

Suggestions from the booklet

According to the booklet, sorghum can be grown as a red gram intercrop in Kharif. Although farmers in Mahabubnagar, Adilabad, Medak and Rangareddy districts are used to cultivating sorghum, it can also be grown in the highlands of other districts.

Farmers in Khammam and Nalgonda are used to raising Maghi Sorghum. Farmers can get high yields on sesame with less investment. If there are no pesticide residues, white sesame and shelled sesame can be exported to other countries.