Hyderabad: When the Telangana government urged farmers to grow commercial crops.
Officials told the agricultural sub-committee cabinet that plant conversion was a difficult task as a limitation of four districts, which remained growing rice, cotton and corn at 90% of fields.
Authorities say Vicarabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar, and Nirmal are districts where various plants, including vegetables, grow.
This season, the main plants indicated for cultivation are peanuts (10 lakh hectares) and corn (12 lakh hectares).
With concerns over the procurement of rice in the state for the upcoming rabbi season, officials hope that at least 20 hectares can be changed to other plants such as pulses and peanuts, as opposed to the 45-lakh hectare target.
‘Crop Conversion A Concern Pravin Rao, Vicechancellor Professor Jayashankar, Telangana State Agricultural University (Pjtsau) told Toi that plant conversion was a big problem not only in Telangana but throughout India.
“Land parcels with water seepage cannot be converted for other plants.
Conversion for Rabbi season occurs positively and we can expect a minimum of 20-25 hectares can be transferred to other plants,” Rao added that many people shifted to plants like peanuts.
Forsee officials that if the market link was established and subsidies provided, many farmers would be willing to enter other plants.
“Cutting conversion will shift in the next half next year,” said an official.