Making farmer the KING: KCR ushers in new Agriculture Policy

Hyderabad: Bidding adieu to the centuries-old farming practices in Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday launched a Comprehensive Agriculture Policy, introducing new crop pattern under which the farmers will have to cultivate crops recommended by the government.

The new policy is aimed at making farming a permanent profitable profession and promote Telangana's agricultural products in the world market.

In view of the huge demand to the cotton produced in Telangana, the government decided to encourage farmers to go for cotton cultivation in 70 lakh acres in the ensuing Kharif season.

In the last season, cotton has been cultivated in 53 lakh acres. The government will provide all marketing facilities to sell quality cotton at world level so that farmers will get more profits.

Farmers will be allowed to take up paddy cultivation in 40 lakh acres and the government will suggest what varieties they cultivate .

Those who failed to adhere the instructions, will not get Rythu Bandhu benefit. The famous sugar-free Telangana Sona variety rice will be grown in not less than 10 lakh acres this time. The new variety has a huge demand in the international market.

Appealing to the farmers to stop cultivating maize in the ensuing farming season, the Chief Minister said the government will buy all Red Gram production from the farmers.

Vegetables will be grown in 2 lakh acres and turmeric farmers in Nizamabad, Jagtial and normal chilli will be grown in 2 lakh acres in the identified areas only.

KCR asserted that the utilization of all water resources available in the state for the promotion of agriculture in a big way. He instructed all the District Collectors to finalise the crop pattern in consultation with the local agriculture officials.

The CM will hold a day-long meeting with the Collectors and district agriculture officials in two or three days in Hyderabad.

The CM also announced setting up of food processing SEZs, establishment of cold storages in every assembly constituency and increase the number of storage stations in the state.