Telangana farmers shift from paddy as horticulture crops bring first returns

More veggies from Telangana on plate: El Nino changes crop choices, farmers receive returns from harvest

Farmers in Telangana have begun harvesting horticulture crops planted on parts of their land, and the first harvest has already brought returns, according to an official.

The development comes as farmers move, at least partly, away from paddy and take up vegetables, fruits, spices, flowers and other horticulture crops. The shift is taking place even as the State recorded 17% deficit rainfall in the Southwest Monsoon.

Horticulture area rises by 12.81 lakh acres

The area used to cultivate vegetables, fruits, spices, flowers and other horticulture crops increased by 12.81 lakh acres, rising from 22.58 lakh acres in Kharif 2025-26 to 35.40 lakh acres in this monsoon sowing season.

The Horticulture department recorded the increase during a period when the prevailing impact of El Nino was changing farmers’ crop choices in Telangana. The State had been prominent for paddy cultivation, a pattern that had also raised environmental concerns.

The area under horticulture crops could increase further during the rabi, or yasangi, season. Encouraging farmers to choose horticulture crops or less water-intensive crops instead of paddy has long been part of the Horticulture department’s agenda.

The department’s push is linked to concerns over depleting groundwater levels, lower reservoir levels across the State and increasing demand for electricity. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has recently appealed to farmers to defer one crop, while less water-intensive crops have also been pitched as an alternative.

Officials plan awareness and training

The Agriculture Department prepared El Nino contingency plans in April, according to Agriculture Department Secretary K. Surendra Mohan. Awareness about alternative crops was spread during the Praja Palana Pragatiki Pranalika programme.

Seeds for cultivating pulses, vegetables and other crops were provided at subsidised prices. Officials may also include folk artists in efforts to explain the impact of El Nino and the contingency plans.

Officers concerned have been asked to train farmers during the transition because not all farmers may have cultivated fruits, spices, flowers or other horticulture crops earlier. The training is intended to support farmers as they take up crops that require different cultivation practices from paddy.

Supply chain remains a concern

Farmers have consistently raised concerns about selling vegetables, spices, fruits and other produce because the supply chain for these crops is not as well defined as the paddy supply chain. They have also sought more cold storage facilities and ways to export their produce to other States.

To address the gap between farmers and buyers, a senior official said officials spoke to organisations that operate community kitchens serving students of government schools and colleges. These organisations procure produce from aggregators, so officials contacted the aggregators and linked them with local farmers.

The arrangement is intended to ensure that farmers have buyers for their horticulture produce. Currently, 12 out of 39 community kitchens across the State are operating.

Cold rooms and direct sales

The next action plan includes setting up cold storages and providing a 15% subsidy for individual farmers to establish cold rooms. The cost of a cold room is around ₹10 lakh.

Other initiatives include setting up stalls at residential complexes so farmers can sell fresh farm produce directly. This model is being tried at a gated community in Ibrahimpatnam.

A few more initiatives are being planned to address the difficulties farmers face between harvest and sale. Horticulture department officials said more farmers may make the transition after understanding that water resources may become scarce in the coming weeks.

Districts recording the biggest increase

According to the latest information from the Horticulture department, Nalgonda, Nagarkurnool, Vikarabad, Mahabubabad and Mahabubnagar recorded the highest increase in the area used for vegetables, spices, fruits and other crops.

District Horticulture and Sericulture Officer (DHSO) Nalgonda T. Sekhar said farmers opted for a mix of horticulture crops, including chillis, brinjal, gourd, tomato and others.

DHSO Mahabubangar K. Venugopal said farmers did not replace their complete paddy-sown area at once, but began by cultivating horticulture crops on part of their land. “They have reaped the first harvest and recorded returns,” said Mr. Venugopal.

In the case of most vegetables, the first harvest comes six to eight weeks after transplanting or sowing. Further harvests from the same crop continue for around eight more weeks.

Source: The Hindu