Despite significant rise in cultivation costs, paddy crop area expands in Telangana

Ryots cultivate paddy because of the good prices commanded by superfine varieties in both domestic and international markets

Hyderabad: Telangana’s agricultural landscape is experiencing a paradox. Despite the significant rise in the cost of paddy cultivation, driven by factors such as increasing labour expenses, input costs, and water scarcity, the area under paddy cultivation continues to expand. The cost of cultivating paddy in Telangana has risen sharply in recent years.

On average, the cost per acre ranges from Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000. This estimate includes expenses for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labour, and irrigation.

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The labour costs have become particularly burdensome, with an acute scarcity of farm labourers adding to the odds.

Farmers now often have to hire labourers from neighbouring States such as Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, further driving up costs.

Land preparation typically costs between Rs 3,500 and Rs 7,500 per acre while seeds and planting material involve an expenditure of Rs 3,200 per acre.

The cost involved in the application of fertilizers and nutrients is between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per acre while irrigation support is in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre depending on the nature of the land – irrigated or irrigated dry.

Pests and disease management involve a cost of Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 per acre. Despite the high costs, farmers continue to cultivate paddy because of the good prices commanded by superfine varieties in both domestic and international markets.

The demand for rice remains high, making it a lucrative crop for farmers. However, farmers argue that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) provided by the government does not adequately match their expenditure.

Government incentives and support, while helpful, are not sufficient under the current Congress government to fully sustain the farmers.

The expansion of paddy cultivation is largely driven by the market demand and the financial viability of growing superfine rice varieties.

Every three years, a new block period is established, selecting different sample tehsils, villages, and farmers.

The current block period for calculating the cultivation costs for 2023-2026 commenced from Kharif in June 2023. This block period will focus on nine crops in Telangana – paddy, maize, red gram, green gram, Bengal gram, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and cotton.

The escalation in costs is expected to be significant for paddy and cotton, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support farmers in managing these expenses.

The rising costs of paddy cultivation in Telangana present a significant challenge to farmers. Despite these challenges, the high demand for rice and the financial incentives for growing superfine varieties continue to drive the expansion of paddy cultivation.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the region, it is crucial to address these rising costs and explore alternative crop options.