Revanth Reddy shifts tone on paddy, pushes crop diversification

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy backs crop diversification despite earlier criticism of similar proposals. He promotes commercial crops for sustainability, rules out pressure on farmers, flags gaps in crop bonuses, and plans a new agency to curb adulteration

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has again advocated crop diversification, marking a shift from his earlier stance on paddy cultivation and criticism of the BRS government’s appeal to the farming community to refrain from paddy cultivation.

Speaking to media persons during an informal interaction on Monday, he said paddy cultivation alone would not be sufficient. The state government would promote other crops, he stressed.

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His remarks contrast with his earlier position when he was in the opposition. At the time, he had opposed the BRS government’s call to reduce paddy cultivation and take up commercial crops. He had then said it was the state government’s responsibility to procure paddy from farmers. Now, the Chief Minister is backing commercial crop cultivation. He said the government would promote such crops for sustainability.

He made it clear that there would be no pressure on farmers to shift crops. The government would instead create awareness on crop diversification, he said.

The Chief Minister said the supply of fine rice through the Public Distribution System had helped curb black marketing. He added that distributing coarse rice was an expense on the exchequer and offered little benefit to the poor.

The Congress party had promised bonuses for various crops, including paddy, in its manifesto. However, except for the fine rice variety of paddy, the government has not assured the same for other crops, even after deciding to promote commercial cultivation. When asked about bonuses for other crops, he said the matter was under consideration.

The Chief Minister also said the government was considering a new agency to curb food adulteration, on the lines of HYDRAA and EAGLE. He said laws and policies adopted in other states would be reviewed before introducing a system.