Telangana: Farmers stick to paddy cultivation, hope to sell rice to traders

Nalgonda: Majority of the farmers in the district appear to have decided to go in for paddy cultivation in Yasangi despite the State government’s categorical stand that it would not procure paddy following the Centre’s refusal to buy rice. The farmers are hoping to mill the paddy and sell the rice to traders in the […]

Nalgonda: Majority of the farmers in the district appear to have decided to go in for paddy cultivation in Yasangi despite the State government’s categorical stand that it would not procure paddy following the Centre’s refusal to buy rice.

The farmers are hoping to mill the paddy and sell the rice to traders in the event procurement centres are not opened.

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With excellent irrigation facility in place and plenty of ground water available, farmers are going in for paddy cultivation instead of alternative crops like pulses and vegetables as advised by the government.

Though the officials of Agriculture department are making efforts to create awareness among farmers on alternative crops and advising them not to take up paddy cultivation in view of the decision of the government, it appears to have little impact on the crop pattern in the district. Farmers have already taken up nurseries of paddy in a large extent of area in ayacut and non-ayacut areas of the district.

Speaking to Telangana Today, N Venkanna, a farmer who has taken up cultivation of paddy in his three acres at Surarm village in Nalgonda district, said he has no other option but to take up cultivation of paddy in his wet land. “It is hard to sell common rice (doddu biyyam) in the market. Hence, I have taken up cultivation of paddy,” he said.

N Yadagiri, another farmer, says the cost of cultivation of fine variety of paddy was high compared to the common variety. “I am not in a position to switch over to alternative crops due to multiple reasons including soil nature and monkey menace. We are getting investment support from the State government under Rythu Bandhu which helped me avoid borrowing money for cultivation,” he said.

“Earlier, I was forced to sell my produce immediately after harvesting to clear my debts. But, the situation has changed now. I can wait till I get a good price for my produce in the market,” he added.

District Agriculture Officer G Sridhar Reddy said the agriculture officers were trying hard to bring about a change in the attitude of farmers and encourage them to switch over to alternative crops given the situation. “We have taken up campaign through booklets and pamphlets on alternative crops and expect the change but in a gradual manner.

When a farmer gets higher profit through alternative crops, other farmers will follow suit. We need to set such examples in each and every village,” he added.

-P Srinivas

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