Experts Urge Telangana to Promote Export-Oriented Paddy Varieties to Boost Farmers’ Income
Hyderabad, June 15 (TNT): Agricultural scientists and experts on Monday recommended large-scale awareness campaigns to encourage Telangana farmers to cultivate eight premium paddy varieties with strong domestic and international demand, saying the move could help farmers secure prices higher than the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The recommendations were made at a meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka at Praja Bhavan.
Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao and D. Sridhar Babu also attended the meeting.
The committee reviewed agricultural production, paddy procurement operations, storage facilities and preparations for the upcoming Kharif season.
Agricultural scientists and vice-chancellors of farm universities presented proposals aimed at making paddy cultivation more profitable and market-oriented.
The experts identified eight paddy varieties — BPT-5204, Telangana Sona (RNR-15048), KNM-1638, Jai Sriram, HMT, WGL-962, WGL-44 and JGL-1798 — as highly suitable for both domestic consumption and export markets.
According to the scientists, rice produced from these varieties enjoys strong demand in countries such as the United States, Australia and several European nations, creating opportunities for farmers to earn premium prices beyond the MSP.
They informed the committee that adequate seed availability exists for all eight varieties, making large-scale cultivation feasible across the state.
The experts stressed that encouraging cultivation of export-oriented and high-demand varieties would help protect farmers from market fluctuations and significantly enhance farm incomes.
They urged the government to organise special awareness programmes in villages to educate farmers about the economic benefits of these varieties.
Vice-chancellors of agricultural universities said large-scale promotion of these paddy varieties could generate additional income for farmers, strengthen agricultural markets and facilitate a shift towards a more profitable paddy cultivation model in Telangana.
Officials from the Civil Supplies Department informed the meeting that several fine rice varieties currently being cultivated were not receiving adequate market acceptance due to issues such as higher broken rice percentages during milling and lower consumer preference.
They suggested that future crop promotion policies should focus on varieties preferred by consumers, millers and traders and those with export potential, while gradually reducing cultivation of varieties lacking market demand.
Officials said such an approach would encourage direct procurement by millers at better prices, benefiting farmers while ensuring consumers receive quality rice at affordable rates.
The committee was also informed that paddy procurement would continue in accordance with Central Government policies and that future crop planning should be aligned with market demand to minimise losses to farmers.
Among those present were Farmers Commission Chairman Kodanda Reddy, Seed Corporation Chairman Anvesh Reddy, Finance Principal Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Agriculture Principal Secretary M. Raghunandan Rao Surender Mohan, Agriculture Commissioner Gopi, Markfed Managing Director Rahul Raj, Civil Supplies Commissioner D.S. Chauhan Stephen Ravindra and other senior officials.
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