Telangana: What's next? Farmers fret

Khammam: The farmers’ scenario isn’t a bright one, Chilli and red gram remain a nightmare, cotton is not a favourite crop of the government and paddy and maize prices are disappointing.

The 2017 Kharif is commencing amidst the low morale  of farmers. Though the government evolved a crop plan for Kharif, no official in the agricultural department can assure of success  of the plan in the season because of the disturbed frame of mind of the farmers.

These farmers, who used to decide the crop to be sown in Kharif, 20 days ahead of Eruvaka (commencement of farming), have  not yet decided which crop to choose.

The interesting factor about the crops in the previous Kharif was that while almost all crops saw bumper production, the prices were  disappointing. Even the paddy raised in Rabi was disappointing, with the slowing down of sales.

Turmeric farmers in Nizamabad, chilli farmers in Khammam and Warangal district had to struggle with  various problems due to falling prices. The arrest and handcuffing of farmers in Khammam has had a negative impact on the peasants.

Mr P. Nancharaiah, a farmer in Kachirajugudem in Khammam Rural mandal. said, “It is a fact that the farmers are confused because of their experience in the recent past. We have to come to a decision on our own as to what to do.”

As per the Kharif plan, the government  expects 1.88 lakh hectares to be cultivated in Khammam district, including cotton in 1.04 lakh hectares, paddy in 72,467 hectares, maize in 4,458, green gram in 5,580 and red gram in 1,609 hec-tares. The government is planning to supply seeds for  2.12 lakh hectares and fertilisers for 2.55 lakh hectares.

Mr N. Nageswara Rao, farmers’ leader, said that farming has become a lottery and there is no information on the price fluctuation of the crops. “All this is  taking place because of the lack of scientific approach,” he said.