Telangana aims to be Seed Bowl of India:Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Telangana aims to be Seed Bowl of India

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Hans India (11-10-2015)

Gone those days when many farmers used to set apart a portion of their agriculture product normally grown in an exclusive piece of land to be used as seed for the following year. These farmers were selling on affordable price to others mostly in their village and some times in the neighboring villages. Thus each village was self sufficient in that aspect then. As far as paddy cultivation is concerned some farmers with surplus land holdings used to develop seedlings and sell them to others at the time of plantation, also on affordable price. Unfortunately over a period the system has been discontinued and in its place farmers have been propelled to buy seeds from agencies. Olden day’s practice of growing seeds for their needs by farmers has been totally abandoned. Slowly this has become a monopoly business in the country and several states and with the growth of business some of the agencies indulged in sale of spurious seeds also. The change over, over a period, resulted in both bad and good effects. Now the question is how do we convert this scenario totally to the advantage of the state and make Telangana the seed bowl of India? Seeds are a critical and basic input for enhancing agricultural production and productivity in different agro-climatic regions. Indian seed programme largely adheres to the limited generation system for seed multiplication.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao in a meeting with Seed Company representatives held at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University on 5^th October 2015 dealing with the subject told them to adopt one village in each of the 95 Rural Assembly Segments to develop seeds. He said the Government will extend full support to them in all aspects. Against this background CM also briefly detailed the genesis of this idea which had its origin during the agitation for separate Telangana State. At that time the then leader of the movement and now Chief Minister of the state had several meetings among persons drawn from different fields on the future course of action once Telangana State is formed including the issue of seeds. 

In one such meeting former Vice-Chancellor of SV University Professor VR Reddy told CM that Telangana has a typical land mix coupled with excellent moderate, non-extreme climatic conditions that ideally suits for seed production so that Telangana could be converted as seed bowl of India. In Telangana in majority of villages we find red soil and also black soil lands side by side like in ICRISAT which is chosen for research. Touching upon various aspects concerned to the subject CM highlighted several issues connected to farming and agriculture.

Agriculture University, once an abode for research activity, has almost done away with that. Department of Agriculture has done away with extension work and its main concentration is on distribution of fertilizers and pesticides. No agronomist is found in the state. Both the department and university needs to regain their past glory. A state that has excellent opportunities is totally neglected in the erstwhile rule. Farmer is naturally depressed and farming has collapsed.

Despite this there has been tremendous seed development in the state. As against 438 rural mandals there are about 364 seed companies. About more than a Crore Acres of land is available for cultivation including seed development. Telangana shall have to be divided into different crop colonies to analyze and assess the type of crop that could be grown there. It could be done district wise and mandal wise. In all the lands soil testing has to be done.

There is a need to assess the domestic consumption of various agricultural products and the land required for that.  It will be a good idea if rest of the land is made use for seed development. Ultimately in the field of agriculture the overall productivity has to be improved. For enabling this Government decided to allot one agronomist for every 5000 acres of land who will be thoroughly trained and equipped with all latest knowledge in farming techniques to help farmer in all aspects. CM said that the whole world is looking towards Telangana for supply of seeds and to grab the opportunity Telangana should make a fresh beginning. In many countries it is difficult to grow seed. By identifying such countries wherever there is a need, Telangana may do seed export. A strategy has to be drawn to develop seed production in the state so that entire country’s need could be met from here. An estimation of the extent of land where seed production could be taken up has to be made. A strategy also has to be drawn as to how farmer could be encouraged for seed production educating him about its profitability. The present area of seed growing land of 2 Lakhs 90 acres could be further expanded.

Agriculture is the main stay of the Telangana State and the Government is determined to develop and improve this sector. The state predominantly consists of small and marginal farmers. Seed input is an important catalyst for the development of agriculture. Availability of quality seed is the foundation for enhancing productivity and hence need for quality seed production. Seed production in the state has unmatched quality compared to any other state owing to several factors like favorable climate, diverse soils, facilities for seed storage, geographical advantage, enthusiastic famer etc. Major crops involved in seed production in the state are rice, maize, Bt Cotton, pulses, millets and oilseeds. At present seed production is mainly concentrated and confined in the districts of Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Mahaboobnagar and Warangal.   

In addition to this one must give a thought to start farming organizations to benefit farmers which as of now is an unorganized sector. Their problems are varied and differ from others. For example farmers are used to grow a crop which normally yields a better price in a particular year. When they grow it the prices go down steeply the next year resulting in heavy losses to the farmer. If this happens on a continuous basis agriculture community suffers. How to overcome this? How to educate a farmer? If farming is to be made profitable what has to be done? Can we think of district wise or mandal wise or revenue division wise units for growing a particular crop? There are certain crops which are grown more than the requirement and hence there may not be sufficient market for them. How do we regularize cropping pattern? It is also desirable to apportion a particular Zone or Unit exclusively for growing vegetables and so also for other crops.

A study may also be undertaken either by University or by Department to suggest Telangana farmer to go for a particular crop that is in shortage and not possible to grow in neighboring states. Thought should also be given to increase production by using micro nutrients. Concept of self supported villages is also to be developed.

It is time that University and Department sits together and evolves a comprehensive strategy in tune with the social transformation and technological developments so that the agricultural community will not go in to depression and instead flourishes in future. End

Infrastructure Development Model for Telangana:Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Infrastructure Development Model for Telangana

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

            Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao unveiled the Infrastructure Development Model for Telangana as a whole and for Hyderabad in particular. The CM disclosed details of this in a meeting with representatives of a China based leading infrastructure company namely Anju Infrastructure. It’s Director Yogesh Wagh along with his colleague Director Manoj Gandhi and Chairman of Radick Consultants Raj Kumar its sister concern called on Chief Minister on 23^rd and 24^th September 2015. Earlier when CM visited China during 2^nd and 3^rd week of September to attend the World Economic Forum meeting, Yogesh Waugh along with his team had an interaction meeting with him. At that time his team evinced keen interest in Telangana Industrial Policy and expressed his preparedness to invest in the state. CM invited him to visit the state.

            Details of CM’s Development Model: Hyderabad, one of the largest cities in India, is also the largest city in Telangana. It is administered through two bodies known as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metro Development Authority (HMDA). GHMC has 640 Square Kilometers area and forms part of HMDA which is covered by an area of 7200 Square Kilometers. Hyderabad has an outer ring road and within 50 Kilometers radius from the city on all sides there are 9 towns and it requires infrastructure development altogether. The towns within 50 KM radius are: Shadnagar on the Hyderabad-Bangalore Highway, Choutappal on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway, Bhongir on the Hyderabad-Warangal Highway, Gajwel on the Hyderabad-Karimnagar Highway, Sangareddy on the Hyderabad-Bombay Highway, Vikarabad on the Hyderabad-Gulbarga Highway, Medchal up to Toopran on the Hyderabad-Nagpur Highway and Narsapur on the Hyderabad-Bodhan Highway. CM said that as Hyderabad city is expanding towards these towns, the master plans should be prepared in that direction. Telangana government had decided to construct express elevated highways along the highways leading to Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda.

            Chief Minister said that Hyderabad and its surrounding cities need to be developed in a decent and scientific manner. The master plan should include construction of flyovers, expressways, skyways, roads, provision of sewerage, drinking water and housing in all these towns. Besides Hyderabad, cities like Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Ramagundam which are corporations with nearly a million populations and are second layer towns too would be developed with international standards. Besides these the 67 municipalities would also be developed in a phased manner. CM recalled his request made to the New Development Bank (NDB) Chairman KV Kamath during his China Visit for financial assistance of Rs. 25, 000 Crores for projects relating to roads, sewerage, drinking water etc. The Chairman then clarified to CM that the focus of NDB is on Lending to developing countries and the focus will be on setting up infrastructure.

            CM through a video presentation and with the help of Google Earth Map explained in detail about the Strategic Road Development Plan proposed in Hyderabad to the visiting delegation and how Government wants to develop Hyderabad into a global and Smart City. Hyderabad has a comfortable climate, cosmopolitan nature and uniqueness in many ways. CM briefed them his plans and expectations of a new way of urbanization and how Telangana State Government is providing right environment to entrepreneurs. CM’s comprehensive development plan of Hyderabad includes constructing 5 Skyways of 100 KM length, 11 major corridors of 184 KM length, 60 major roads of 360 KM length, other roads of 1400 KM length and 50 grid separators across Hyderabad as well as going for a special emphasis on Bus Bays. As the pressure is on the increase on the existing infrastructure in Hyderabad, it requires a world class infrastructure facility felt CM.

In addition to these CM also mentioned about the Government plans to construct 42-Kilometer long six-lane road from east to west on Musi and to construct a suspension bridge on Durgam Cheruvu in the city besides four major bridges across Godavari River. Chief Minister recalling his meeting with Indian Ambassador in China Ashok k Kantha during his visit said that, development plans for major cities in China like Dalian, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong were designed by Government Companies. In view of this a team of Officers will be visiting China to study the pattern and if necessary to draft the consultancy companies that prepared plans for these cities for preparing similar plans in Telangana.

Director Yogesh Waugh of Anju Infrastructure and representatives of the other construction companies who took part in the meeting with CM, expressed readiness to take part in the construction of roads, bridges, suspension bridges, urban planning and Bridge Designing. They told CM that they are willing to partner in the developmental plans and would once again meet the state government officials and decide on the works to be taken up. Yogesh who is also the Senior Investment Advisor to the Government of China said that his company is a world class one with Government support. According to him China Companies think that India is a big market and as a pool of several manufacturing companies would like to participate in India Infrastructure market more and more. A beginning with one or two projects in Telangana is their choice. Their participation in state infrastructure projects will also bring new technology and new innovations in to Telangana State.

The Chinese infrastructure group made an aerial survey on the following day along the course of Musi River in Hyderabad and also the proposed irrigation projects, roads and bridges in Karimnagar district including Dharmaram and Choppadandi to see the tunnel works there. Pipelines for diverting Godavari water to Mid-Manair will pass through these villages. The tunnel work includes constructing pump house and erecting pump also.

On their return the Chinese delegation discussed about the plans to construct the tunnels for diverting the Godavari waters, construction of four major bridges on Godavari River and road along Musi. The CM also discussed with them the proposed skyscrapers around Hussainsagar Lake. They explained to them the revolutionary changes in construction technology known as China’s New Normal Technology which had the capability to build three floors of a structure within a day by pre-casting method. The towers would be a typical mix of multipurpose floors that will have hotels, malls, residential accommodation and an observatory.

The China Team will give a detailed report in a month’s time on the proposed 42-km road along Musi, construction of tunnels to divert Godavari waters to Mid-Manair in Karimnagar and construction of four major bridges on Godavari. The Chinese construction companies evinced keen interest in taking part in the development activities of the State.

The other members of delegation who met CM include, Zhai Zhen, Wang Peidong, Cui Bohan, Li Li, Li Xiaohong, Shi Yungang, Wuhao, Anesuman krsushnu, Manoj Kumar, Amit Agerwal, BP Singh, Sabyasach Haldar and PV Sherma. End  

Role of Agriculture Department and University is crucial : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Role of Agriculture Department and 

University is crucial

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The history of agriculture in India dates back thousands of years. Agriculture has undergone significant developments and shifts over the past century in response to new technologies and due to development of world markets. Human labor is replaced by synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Technological improvements also caused ecological damage and negative human health effects to some extent.

Telangana is situated on the Deccan Plateau and two important rivers of India, the Godavari, and Krishna flow through the state for providing irrigation. Apart from major rivers, there are small rivers such as Tunga Bhadra, Bhima, Dindi, Kinnerasani, Manjira, Manair, Penganga, Pranahita, peddavagu and Taliperu. Telangana has a predominantly hot and dry climate. Summers start in March and peak in May. The monsoon arrives in June and lasts until September. The normal rainfall is from the southwest monsoons but also gets considerable rains from cyclones. Various soil types abound, including chalkas, red sandy soils, dubbas, deep red loamy soils, and very deep soils. Rice is the major food crop and staple food of the state. Other important crops are Maize, Tobacco, Mango, Cotton and Sugar cane as well as mangoes, oranges and flowers.

With interest in cultivation decreasing day by day, agriculture is facing crisis. There is scarcity of persons in farming and related activities. Farm labour migration and diversion to other trades also posed a threat to agriculture. In the technology based world, the younger generation is looking at public and private sectors as they are offering reliable sources of income whereas agriculture is seen as a non-profitable one. In districts like Mahaboobnagar, Karimnagar and Nalgonda large number of people migrated to the Middle East and other parts of the world in search of employment. Only a minor section of people are getting into farming. People should be taught that agriculture always stands first ahead of all fields. After the present day generation who are experts in certain farming activities like paddy transplantation retire, probably in the days to come it would be impossible to find replacement to them. Mechanization and micro irrigation to some extent could be an answer to sustain agriculture and hence a strategy has to be drawn for that. 

With the state being newly carved out, says the Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, that farmers will have a good benefit of the irrigation projects. He desires that a functional change should be seen. He wants that Agricultural university and department of Agriculture should work in hand-in-hand to make farming a profitable venture in the state. Strategies should also be drawn to make surplus production, so that they could be marketed properly which eventually makes farmers having an advantage. 

The City of Hyderabad is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Today the population in the HMDA area is about 1.42 Crores and it is inching every year with a million people shifting their base. It is a growing city on all the four sides and is one of the five major metro cities in the country. It is barely 10% of city’s requirement of vegetables is met now. Despite having Mahaboobnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Rangareddy and Karimnagar districts surrounding Hyderabad only 10 percent of city’s requirement of vegetables are met. From many places of those districts to the city there is quick transportation system. Lands and climatic conditions there suit for vegetable production.

The Chief Minister is of the opinion that, Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University should play a vital role in evolving a strategy for encouraging vegetable production and should step in to take measures to bring back the past glory of agriculture in the new state of Telangana. Research activity in the university needs to be strengthened. Every bit of land in the state has to be subjected to soil testing and the details are to be computerised. Vegetable hubs are to be developed around Hyderabad. University may also study the aspects of producing exotic vegetables and ways and means to export them. Different places in Telangana have to be divided in to particular crop colonies. The University needs to pay attention on the cropping pattern and types of crops that should be produced in different lands.

Apart from this, the agricultural university should also undertake extensive research on mechanization aspects. Students of the university should be given free hand in doing research. They should be on the move to interact with farmer on go forward basis.  The university should have a clear idea of soil, technique, crops and others available in each and every mandal of the state. Probably a control room kind of campaign centre should be set up in each mandal that addresses the problems of the farmers and giving quick solution will make things quite easy.  

In fact there was a time when the university played a crucial role in farming. The kind of researches, training camps and many were widely done in the university. Farmers and officers were given special training to know about the latest methods in agriculture. Farmers in batches used to go to Agricultural University to learn about the advanced methods of farming. But over the period of time, this practice has been ignored and now barely any farmer reaches the University to learn the new techniques in agriculture.

It is also the responsibility of Agriculture University to restore the faith in farmers and bring back the past glory. Keeping the weather conditions and kind of soil available in every corner of the state, university should draw strategies in developing crops as per conditions demand. For instance, “Imam Pasand” mangoes which are produced only in Telangana State could be made a monopoly crop and the university should take steps to encourage the farmer to reach a stage where exports gain demand. Similarly research could be done on the type of mangoes that can be produced in Telangana soil. MARKFED has to step in and rectify why the agriculture lost its way in the state of Telangana.

So is the case with the Department of Agriculture. There were days when agricultural university used to train officers of the department and these officers used to interact with farmers and sketch out strategies. It is almost given-up now. The Chief Minister says that the department should have suitable extension officers and if need be through recruitment. It is also time to ensure adequate numbers of AD, DD, JD etc. and also to see that they perform the job related work efficiently. They should be properly and systematically trained in the University. Only after completion of adequate training they must be assigned job work. They are to be in a position to suggest to the farmer about the usage of fertilizer and the type of fertilizer for a particular land. Some of the Agricultural Officers on obtaining training in University may have to become Agronomists and to become experts in science of soil management, land cultivation and crop production. Department has to asses as to what should be their number.

They should be in constant touch with farmer and mingle with them always. Collectively they should draw a comprehensive strategy for the entire state of Telangana for the betterment of agriculture. For instance, they should think about a strategy on the rice or pulses production. What sort of soil suits most and where are the lands available for either rice or pulses or any other crop and what category it should be so that it is advantageous to the farmer has to be thought of. Similarly in the case of oil seeds production a strategy has to be drawn.

Ultimately the department has to come up with a plan to decide as to what should be the agriculture face of Telangana. Similarly the University should give a serious thought as to what should be its role towards that direction. Both department of Agriculture and University are expected to play a greater role than now. Both University and Department should work hand in hand and establish a live contact with farmer. End