Drought-like conditions in 315 mandals in T’gana: Agriculture Minister

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said drought-like conditions have affected 315 mandals due to rainfall deficit and El Nino impact. He sought immediate Central assistance, higher MSP procurement support, enhanced funding for water conservation works, and fertiliser subsidy reforms to help farmers.

Hyderabad: Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said on Saturday that drought-like conditions prevailed in 315 mandals in the state due to rainfall deficit and the impact of El Niño.

Rao, who attended a video conference held by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said the state government directed officials to assess the condition of standing crops, conserve available water and ensure the supply of irrigation water and electricity till harvest.

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He sought immediate Central assistance to take measures to deal with the drought-like conditions, an official release said.

He urged the Centre to procure maize, jowar, pulses, oilseeds and other major crops for MSP and requested the Centre to remove the 25 per cent procurement cap in the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

The minister also sought to increase the allocation of funds for VB-G RAM G and prioritise agriculture works, including the digging of farm ponds and water conservation, in the scheme.

Observing that urea consumption is extensive due to the price subsidy, Rao urged the Centre to rationalise fertiliser prices and subsidies without causing an additional financial burden on farmers.