Paddy cultivation strains Telangana’s water resources

It presents a serious challenge. The widespread, unplanned approach to paddy cultivation is now in question

Hyderabad: With paddy cultivation taking precedence over cultivation of other crops even during Yasangi, the State is becoming heavily reliant on its precious water resources. The crop is favoured for its straight forward cultivation process. Its dependability makes it the ultimate choice for many farmers.

However, the intensive irrigation required for paddy has raised serious concerns among irrigation authorities. The water resources are limited and even strained because of keeping key projects like the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project idle. It presents a serious challenge.

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The widespread, unplanned approach to paddy cultivation is now in question. Paddy is notorious for being a water-guzzling crop.
Irrigation authorities have expressed their frustration with the current state of paddy cultivation processes. They argue that the uncoordinated and extensive planting of paddy is unsustainable and undermines the long-term health of the region’s water resources. These officials advocate for a more strategic and planned approach to paddy farming taking into consideration the availability of water and the needs of other crops.

The State-level Committee for Integrated Water Planning and Management (SCIWAM) has announced plans to extend irrigation support to nearly 43 lakh acres during the Rabi season. The government had proposed to make approximately 350 TMC of water available under major and medium irrigation projects in both the Krishna and Godavari basins. But paddy being opted for by a majority, they are fearing that it would become a tight ropewalk. Paddy is going to occupy more than 70 per cent of the projected Rabi area of 80 lakh acres this year.

Of late, the water availability looks to be far less than the projected. The irrigation authorities are under tremendous pressure from the elected representatives for water to paddy cultivations. So far, the Rabi sowing was completed in some 30 lakh acres and more than 20 lakh acres of area was under paddy.

Srisailm and Nagarjuna Sagar and other Krishna basin projects are fast depleting and Sri Ramsagar in Godavari basin is left with poor storage, making it difficult for irrigation authorities to cater to the needs fully during Rabi.

They sought to provide irrigation for 30 lakh acres under major irrigation projects, 7.2 lakh under minor irrigation projects and 2.9 lakh acres under medium irrigation projects. But that now looks a formidable task. During his tenure as Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao introduced the concept of crop colonies in Telangana. The initiative was aimed at preventing price crashes by avoiding the simultaneous cultivation of the same crop by all farmers.

However, with the focus of the new government straying from the crucial factor of agriculture, things have fallen apart. It is time to implement the crop colony concept, irrespective of the fact who introduced it, officials added.