Hyderabad:The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data on cropping pattern indicates rise in the acreage of paddy at the cost of other crops. This trend reiterated the concerns on mono-cropping that scientists and agriculture experts have been pointing out to.
According to the data in the RBI handbook, of the 62,72,600 hectares of agricultural land in the state, paddy, cotton and maize accounted for 48,56,200 hectares over the last few years.
The figures for the kharif season, as on September 25 as per figures given by the government, were paddy 26,50,379 hectares (ha.) (normal 23,14,205 ha.), maize 2,21,308 ha. (normal 2,46,638 ha.) and cotton 17,70,921 hectares (normal 20,43,218 hectares).
This has resulted in a fall in the area under different crops. The area under fruits was reduced from 3.6 lakh ha. to 1.6 lakh, vegetables 2.2 lakh ha. to less than 0.5 lakh ha., sugarcane 39,000 ha., to 27,000 ha.
Coarse cereals were reduced from 7.9 lakh hectares to 6 lakh hectares. Oilseeds have fallen from 6.3 lakh hectares to 3 lakh hectares. The area under pulses area fell from 5.6 lakh hectares to 3.3 lakh hectares.
Asked about the data, Prof. Dandi Raji Reddy, Vice Chancellor of the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticulture University (SKLTSHU) said, “We are trying to promote cultivation of dragon fruits and vegetables along with increasing productivity. By using Central and state schemes cold storage and micro irrigation we will try to give impetus to vegetable farmers.”
The fall has been policy-driven, with the previous BRS government making paddy production as a barometer of its success in the agriculture sector. The lack of an action plan led to this pattern getting a clear impetus though there were statements to the contrary from the then chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao against growing paddy further. The lack of an action plan by the current Congress government has only added to this pattern.
“This cropping pattern which is heavily skewed towards paddy and cotton is not good for Telangana. The government should take concrete steps to support farmers growing pulses, oilseeds, millets, vegetables and fruits. I hope that the Farmers Commission will come up with clear analysis and recommendations on this,” said Kiran Vissa from Rythu Swarajya Vedika.
