K. Chandrashekar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana, is looking forward to turning the State into the Rice Bowl of India.
In regard to this, on the evening of the 28th of April, Mr. Rao conducted a high level meeting with the State Cabinet ministers and Agriculture department officials.
During the meeting, KCR discussed to chalk out a strategy to make farming profitable to the farmers of the State.
KCR also announced to construct a godown with a storage capacity of 40 lakh ton in addition to the existing 22.5 lakh tons storage godowns for crops. The State Government also decided on the procurement of Yasangi produce, preparations for harvesting Vaanakalam crop, fertilizers, storage capacity and construction of Rytu Vedikas.
K. Chandrashekar Rao instructed officials to construct 2,500 Rytu Vedikas, a building for all the farmers and agricultural meetings and to activate Rytu Bandhu Samithis scheme under proper guidelines. The set of guidelines and policies are yet to be drafted for Rytu Bandhu Samithis, which would help farmers with the investment to cultivate two crops in a year.
Mr. Rao even asked farmers to buy fertilizers for the agriculture purpose during the month of June.
Mr. Rao said, “With the Government realizing that irrigation is the game changer, the State took up projects that would help in utilizing 1,300 TMC of water from Godavari and Krishna basins. Improvement of water bodies with the help of Mission Kakatiya and free electricity have enhanced availability of water.” He further added, “With the help of projects, tanks and borewells, there is every possibility of cultivating two crops in 45 lakh acres and three crops in 10 lakh acres (land.) In effect, there will be cultivation of crops in 3 crore acres of land in Telangana, and of this, majority will be paddy.”
The State would become the Rice Bowl of India by cultivating paddy in vast land of 1 crore acres.
CM KCR instructed the Agriculture and Civil Supplies departments to prepare a strategy ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers.
Considering the need of consumers, KCR said, “While the farmers benefit from the demand for their produce, the consumers will get quality processed food at lower prices.”
Giving advice to the farmers, KCR said, “Take up crops advised by the Agriculture department and only the Government will purchase them.”
He further added, “We have already appointed an Agriculture Extension Officer for each cluster. Rytu Bandhu Samithis should also be active and help farmers,” the Chief Minister said, and asked for preparation of an action plan to decide the scope and duties of these farmers’ bodies.
KCR asked the farmers to buy seeds from the government seed shops instead of agents.
S. Niranjan Reddy, the Minister for Agriculture, Gangula Kamalakar, the Civil Supplies Minister, Chief Adviser to Telangana Rajiv Sharma and Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar attended the review meeting.
Meanwhile, Telangana crossed a total of 1,009 cases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 with 25 deaths till the 29th of April.
