Thummala cites Centre’s letter, asks farmers to shift from paddy

Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao urged farmers in Telangana to shift from paddy to alternative crops like oil palm, citing better returns, government incentives and procurement support, while noting that the Centre may not procure additional rice from the State

Siddipet: Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwar Rao called upon farmers to shift to alternative crops such as oil palm by moving away from paddy cultivation.

Addressing farmers during a Rythu Mela organised on the premises of the oil palm factory at Narmetta in Siddipet on Thursday, the Minister said the Centre had already issued a notice to the State government stating that it would not procure any additional rice from Telangana.

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Stating that Telangana had already emerged as number one in paddy cultivation in the country, Nageshwar Rao said farmers were continuing with paddy cultivation even in areas with inadequate water availability. He pointed out that crops such as oil palm were yielding better returns. The Minister said an incentive of Rs 51,000 was being provided to oil palm farmers and that the produce was being procured at the farmers’ doorstep, with payments released within three days. He added that farmers could also earn additional income by cultivating inter-crops such as cocoa in oil palm plantations.

Nageshwar Rao said he would also take up the matter with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to announce more subsidies and incentives for farmers who opt for crops other than paddy.