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Tummala flags Telangana’s farm needs at Rabi conference

Hans News Service New Delhi

AgricultureMinister Tummala Nageswara Rao highlighted Telangana’s requirements in the agriculture sector at the National Rabi Conference-2026 on Tuesday and brought key issues concerning farmers to the notice of Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Tummala said Telangana was prioritising crop diversification in view of the El Niño effect, rainfall fluctuations and prolonged dry spells. As a result, pulse cultivation had increased significantly, with Telangana ranking second in the country and recording a 36% rise over the previous year.

He sought Central assistance to expand vegetable cultivation from the present 8,800 acres to one lakh acres. Citing rainfall shortages in several mandals due to El Niño, he requested special assistance for micro-irrigation, protective irrigation and water conservation structures.

Tummala also sought the inclusion of maize and sorghum (jowar) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), describing them as drought-tolerant crops suitable for water-stressed areas. He urged the Centre to restore the import duty on crude palm oil to 44%, stressing the need to protect domestic oil palm farmers while promoting cultivation.

The Minister said Chouhan assured him that a special committee on oil palm prices would be appointed to examine farmers’ issues.

Tummala further urged the Centre to provide satellite-based soil health technology to farmers for real-time soil health information and periodically review subsidy policies for urea, DAP and complex fertilisers in view of changing international conditions.

He sought sanction of 16 additional Krishi Vigyana Kendras (KVKs) through the ICAR and Central support for Telangana’s proposal to establish an Agri-Business Park and a Centre of Excellence for semi-arid horticulture crops in Kodangal. He also highlighted the need for a new seed Bill to safeguard farmers’ interests, saying the proposals would strengthen climate-resilient agriculture, crop diversification, extension services and farmers’ income security.