Good monsoon, borewells drove Telangana’s paddy output, not Kaleshwaram: Prof Janaiah
Hyderabad, Aug 12 (TNT): Favourable monsoons and expansion of groundwater irrigation through borewells, rather than the Kaleshwaram project, were the key factors behind the increase in paddy production in Telangana, Prof Aldas Janaiah, Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU)Â , has said.
In an analysis released on Wednesday, Prof Janaiah said farmer-centric measures such as Rythu Runa Mafi, Rythu Bima, Rythu Bharosa, 24-hour free power supply and availability of water had also contributed to increased agricultural activity in the State during the last two years.
He said good monsoons over the past decade had been the major reason for the increase in paddy production in Telangana.
According to the analysis, nearly 40 lakh additional acres had come under cultivation following the installation of around 15 lakh new borewells in the State. Borewells, he said, were responsible for the entire growth in irrigable area in Telangana during the period.
Prof Janaiah, however, said increased agricultural production alone could not determine farmers’ welfare, which depended on the net income remaining after meeting rising irrigation and cultivation expenditure.
He said Telangana had not recorded corresponding growth in farmers’ net income during the last 10 years despite the expansion in cultivation and paddy production.
The analysis also contended that the Kaleshwaram project had no significant role in the State’s abundant paddy production and attributed the growth primarily to favourable rainfall and groundwater irrigation.
It further said the agricultural performance had to be assessed in terms of farmers’ income and sustainability rather than merely the increase in cropped area or production.
The analysis comes amid a political debate over the factors behind Telangana’s agricultural growth, with the ruling Congress highlighting its farmer-oriented policies and the role of Praja Palana in improving farmers’ welfare.
TNT TS
