Telangana can emerge as vegetable hub, says ATARI Director

ATARI Director Dr Sheikh Meera said Telangana has the potential to emerge as a model vegetable hub in India and urged farmers to expand cultivation. SKLTHU Vice-Chancellor Dr Danda Raji Reddy said simple techniques could boost yields by nearly 30%.

Hyderabad: Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) director Dr Sheikh Meera said Telangana possesses a conducive environment to emerge as a model vegetable hub within the country, achieving self-sufficiency in vegetable production.

Dr Meera urged farmers to focus on expanding the area under vegetable cultivation, calling upon every farmer to step forward and encourage at least five other farmers to take up vegetable farming.

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Participating in an event organised by the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTHU) and Horticulture department here on Tuesday, Dr Meera noted that while food security has already been achieved in the country, nutritional security can only be realised through increased availability of vegetables. He emphasised the need for farmers themselves to act as “voluntary officers” in the effort to expand the cultivation area.

SKLTHU Vice Chancellor Dr Danda Raji Reddy said by employing simple techniques and making minimal investments, farmers could increase vegetable yields by nearly 30 per cent. He encouraged farmers to utilise low-cost trellises (pendals) and, wherever feasible, to adopt organic and natural farming methods for cultivating vegetables.