Safe option: Telangana farmers still opt for paddy

Like thousands of other farmers in Telangana, Vilas Bhukya was in a dilemma — whether or not or not to cultivate paddy . And this was for a motive — with the Union Govt producing it very clear that it is not going to purchase any parboiled rice this rabi year, the Condition Authorities asked its farmers to shun paddy.

But Vilas and thousands of his friends decided to go ahead with paddy, with a change. He dispersed his five-acre farm similarly involving wonderful varieties and types suited for parboiled rice. As a final result, the space below paddy in the State, which was to be slice down to 15-20 lakh acres in the time, has crossed the 30-lakh acre mark, shocking a lot of.

The Centre stated it would not be able to procure parboiled rice all through the rabi period is it has stocks for virtually 3-4 yrs. Also, Telangana does not consume parboiled rice and States consuming the selection have their very own preparations.

On the other hand, farmers in the Point out are converting paddy to parboiled rice as milling it to white rice final results in a larger percentage of damaged. This is since the grain is exposed to pretty significant temperatures throughout March-April. One particular way of acquiring a resolution to this challenge is to modernise rice costs, which will end result in the State acquiring to satisfy the fees. All these have led to controversies and Centre-State dispute.

Even though in the beginning there were being indicators of a considerable drop in sowing, the region below paddy has equalled the regular space beneath the crop. In accordance to the newest figures, paddy has been sown on 31 lakh acres, which is ordinary for the year. The area is expected to develop a very little additional just before the sowing season ends in the next handful of times.

However this is 36 for each cent fewer than past year’s acreage of 49 lakh acres, the extent of paddy sowings is increased than the State’s goal, which was to reduce the paddy place to about 20 lakh acres. Telangana Rythu Sangham chief S Malla Reddy had asserted that the farmers would not reduce down the area beneath paddy regardless of the government’s warning. “There is a scope for procurement looking at the dimensions of the state and chances for exports,” he explained.

Interestingly, about one particular-third of the 31 lakh acres is coated by great types, which facial area no challenges. When inquiring the farmers to shun paddy in the rabi time, the Point out Governing administration experienced requested them to grow paddy only if they experienced tie-ups with millers.

Safe wager

Questioned why farmers went in advance and planted paddy, T Devender Reddy, President of South India Millers Associations, claimed paddy was often a safe and sound bet for farmers. “It’s the only crop that offers an certain earnings. This should be just one rationale for them to go with paddy,” he explained.
He, nevertheless, proposed farmers should really go for versions that have desire in the current market. “The dependence on the government procurement should really go,” he reported.
Another reason is that it is not extremely effortless for a paddy farmer to shift to other crops. “The fields prepared for paddy are not acceptable straight away for other crops. Restoration will get 2-3 decades,” an agricultural scientist said. 

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February 17, 2022