Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said Telangana, which was once known for poverty and drought, had now emerged as the rice bowl of India following the reforms introduced by the TRS government.
In the united Andhra Pradesh, farmers in the Telangana region faced many difficulties, including lack of sufficient water, power supply and investment support, he said while presenting a resolution on TRS innovations and achievements in irrigation, agriculture and rural economy during the TRS plenary here on Monday.
In 2020-21, Telangana’s total agriculture production was 3.40 crore tonnes, he said. The Agriculture Minister further said in the united Andhra Pradesh, to meet the foodgrains demand, distribution of rice through fair price shops, the government used to import rice from Punjab and other States. The rice quality used to be poor and inconsumable.
“Today, farmers in the State have increased paddy production substantially due to free power supply and sufficient water supply. Telangana has emerged as the rice bowl of India,” said Niranjan Reddy. In 2014-15, the acreage in Telangana was 1.41 crore acres and in 2020-21, it increased to 2.13 crore acres, registering a growth of almost 50 per cent, he said.
The Agriculture Minister said in terms of paddy procurement last year, Telangana was ranked second after Punjab, but this year, the State is on the path to lead the chart. In the last year during Yasangi season, Telangana’s share was 58 per cent in the Food Corporation of India’s paddy collection, he said adding, “the Rythu Bandhu scheme introduced by the State government has garnered the entire country’s attention.”
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .