Realising that the implementation of crop colonies across the State with an objective to make agriculture a remunerative economic activity is likely to be a long way to go, the Telangana Government is planning to introduce the concept in the 30-km radius of Hyderabad to meet the increasing demand of vegetables in the State capital first.
Huge infrastructure such as greenhouses (poly houses), shade nets, 'pandals', storage space, including cold storages, processing facilities and sufficient number of extension officers to guide the farmers from time to time is required to be put in place, apart from convincing the farmers of the need to take up cultivation of only suggested crops for implementing the crop colonies, officials in the Agriculture Department stated.
Since Hyderabad city and its outskirts have about one-third of the State’s total population and, as it makes sense to meet the demand, it has been decided to form the crop colonies in 30-km radius of the State capital first.
Vegetable supplies
At present, the city gets 75% of vegetable supplies from other States.
When contacted, Agriculture Production Commissioner C. Parthasarathi told The Hindu that the crop colonies concept was being implemented on a pilot basis in Ibrahimpatnam-Manchal-Yacharam cluster in Rangareddy district this agriculture year (2017-18) on 5,000 acres with 2,000 farmers. They were supplied high-quality seedlings of tomato, brinjal and chilli raised in the Centre of Excellence at Jeedimetla here.
Besides, the farmers were provided micro irrigation, subsidised seedlings, poly houses, pandals with an expenditure of ₹5 crore.
Mr. Parthasarathi explained that the concept of crop colonies was basically aimed at ensuring self-sufficiency in agricultural produce, preventing market glut due to excess production of any crop and to make agriculture a remunerative activity based on the soil varieties, existing cropping patterns, consumption and production and providing marketing facility.
As part of encouraging crop colonies around Hyderabad, it is also being planned to establish eight new markets along the Outer Ring Road and the Collectors of Rangareddy and Medchal have been requested to allot sites for the purpose so that godowns, including cold storages, could be constructed there.
However, the issue of ensuring remunerative or at least support price to the produce in such crop colonies is still expected to be a major challenge to make the concept successful.
