Alternative crops fetch good rates, prevent controversies: CM KCR to farmers

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Thursday advised farmers to go for alternative cash crops such as groundnut, cotton, blackgram, mungdaal, and bengal gram since they have a good demand in the market. “Farmers should focus on such crops rather than paddy since it will not only fetch them good prices but also prevent […]

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Thursday advised farmers to go for alternative cash crops such as groundnut, cotton, blackgram, mungdaal, and bengal gram since they have a good demand in the market. “Farmers should focus on such crops rather than paddy since it will not only fetch them good prices but also prevent political controversies,” he said.

The Chief Minister, who was returning from Gadwal, stopped at Rangapur in Pebbair mandal in Wanaparthy district and Williamkonda Thanda in Kothakota mandal and checked the blackgram and groundnut crops cultivated by farmers. Chandrashekhar Rao first stopped at Rangapur and walked to a field where blackgram was being cultivated by Maheswar Reddy, a farmer. He also examined groundnut crops cultivated by another farmer Ramulu.

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The Chief Minister sought to know from them the rate that their crops commanded in the market. He also evinced interest in knowing from the yield and the number of times the crops needed to be watered. The farmers told the Chief Minister that blackgram yield was about eight to 12 quintals per acre and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) was Rs.6,300 per quintal while the market price was over Rs. 8,000 per quintal.

The groundnut yield was about 10 to 15 quintals per acre, while MSP was s.5,550 per quintal and the market price over Rs.7,000 per quintal. They said due to change in crops, land fertility increased leading to more yield.

Chandrashekhar Rao also checked paddy that was spread on the road for drying in Williamkonda Thanda. He also the agriculture field of Gokari Venkataiah who raised groundnut crop. He enquired about the cultivation methods and the yield. He plucked a few groundnut plants and examined the nuts. Venkataiah informed the Chief Minister that due to adequate availability of water and power, the yield had increased.

The Chief Minister’s visit left the farmers thrilled and they took pictures with him. Chandrashekhar Rao instructed Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy who was with him to encourage crops that had good demand in the markets.

Tourism Minister V Srinivas Goud, MLC Goreti Venkanna, MLAs A Venkateswar Reddy, Marri Janardhan Reddy, B Harshavardhan Reddy, Guvvala Balraju and G Jaipal Yadav, District Collector Sheikh Yasmin Bhasha, agriculture officers and others were present.

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