Hyderabad: Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Saturday called on agriculture officials to prepare a district-wise crop plan based on rainfall forecasts in view of the expected less than normal rainfall predicted this monsoon season.
Chairing a review with agriculture, India Meteorology Department (IMD), state agriculture university officials led by Vice Chancellor Dr Aldas Janaiah, the minister said detailed reports must be obtained from IMD by May 15 on monsoon forecast and likely agro-climatic conditions in the state. IMD officials informed the meeting that current forecasts predict less than normal rains in north Telangana, while south Telangana is expected to get very little rainfall. Nageswara Rao said agriculture officials should factor in all such information and prepare district wise crop plan for the Kharif crop season that begins with the onset of monsoon season in June.
Nageswara Rao also expressed concern over the sharp decline in cultivation of pulses, millets, oilseeds, and vegetables over the years, and instructed officials to design a focused strategy to increase their acreage. Telangana, he said, should become self-reliant instead of depending on other states for these essential crops.
He also said excessive paddy cultivation is reducing soil fertility and also resulting in increasing urea consumption.
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