More veggies from Telangana on plate: El Nino changes crop choices, farmers receive returns from harvest

Agriculture Department Secretary K. Surendra Mohan interacting with farmers. | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

The prevailing impact of El Nino is changing crop choices of farmers in Telangana — which was prominent for paddy cultivation and raised environmental concerns along the way. The extent of land used for cultivation of vegetables, fruits, spices, flowers and other horticulture crops has increased by 12.81 lakh acres; from 22.58 lakh acres in Kharif 2025-26 to 35.40 lakh acres in this monsoon sowing season. This was recorded when the State received 17% deficit rainfall in Southwest Monsoon.

The area under various horticulture crops could further increase in this rabi (yasangi). The agenda to encourage farmers to choose these crops or less water-intensive crops over paddy has always been an agenda of the Horticulture department.

Considering depleting groundwater levels, lower levels in reservoirs across the State and increasing demand for electricity, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has recently appealed to farmers to defer one crop. Less water-intensive crops were pitched too. Officials may include folk artists too to spread the message on impact of El Nino and contingency plans.

The tranistion

Agriculture Department Secretary K. Surendra Mohan said that the El Nino contingency plans were prepared in April and awareness about alternative crops were spread during the Praja Palana Pragatiki Pranalika programme. Seeds to cultivate pulses, vegetables and others were provided at subsidised prices. Officers concerned were asked to train farmers during the transition as not all may have cultivated fruits, spices, flowers or others earlier.