MLC cultivates various alternate crops in 55 acres
Medak: Transforming his farm into a perfect model for alternate crop cultivation, MLC Sheri Subhash Reddy skipped paddy this season and is raising different crops in his 55 acres of farmland on the banks of River Manjira at Kuchanpally village in Havelighanpur mandal.
Subhash Reddy, who is also the political secretary to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, hitherto used to cultivate only paddy during both Vanakalam and Yasangi. When the Chief Minister gave a call to the farmers in the State not to cultivate paddy during Yasangi since the Centre has decided not to procure it from the State, Subhash Reddy, converted his farm into a lab for alternate crop cultivation. Under the guidance of agriculture officials, he has sown maize (popcorn variety) in 20 acres of land, sunflower in 20 acres, sun hemp (Janumu) in 6 acres, black gram in 6 acres, pumpkin in 2.5 acres, cotton in 4 acres (sown in June), vegetables in one acre, sesame in one acre and black mustard in half an acre. He has also taken up inter-cropping along the maize cultivation. The sowing operations of all the crops have been completed on his farm.
Speaking to Telangana Today, Subhash Reddy, who loves farming more than anything, said the popcorn variety of maize was in good demand. “We are planning to encourage farmers in Medak to cultivate this crop in 5,000 acres next year if we get the desired results this Yasangi,” Reddy said, adding that he wanted to prove that cultivation of popcorn maize was more beneficial than paddy.
Restricting the use of pesticides, Reddy said that they were using neem oil spray and cow manure. To ensure maximum utilisation of land, the MLC has taken up cultivation of Colombo redgram on the bunds of the field, stating that it yields one quintal of pulses every season. Strengthening the bunds and reaping benefits, he further planted 400 coconut trees, black jamun, guava, and many other fruit-bearing trees also on the bunds.
Stating that he took it up as a challenge to prove that Telangana farmers can cultivate variety of alternative crops, Reddy hoped that his effort will boost the confidence among the farming fraternity. Nagaraju, Assistant Director of Agriculture Department and Rebalson, Agriculture Officer are constantly guiding Subhash Reddy and his men to reap rich harvests. “I am also planning to buy two dozen cows, sheep and country chicken to show how farmers can earn additional income,” he said, pointing out that cow dung and others can also be used as manure in agriculture fields.
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