The Telangana government is keen on harnessing new technology to make the State self-sufficient in agriculture and other allied products.
In the coming years Telangana should be in a position to export agricultural produce to other States, said Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture P. Srinivas Reddy.
He told presspersons here on Tuesday that in a few days he, along with a team of officials, would be visiting Israel to know first hand the agricultural practices and technology adopted there so as to replicate the same in Telangana. Earlier, the Minister held a meeting with visiting Israel officials Yahel Vilan, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Avifriedman, Counsel General, Trade and Economic Affairs, Israel.
Mr. Reddy asked agriculture officials to achieve 100 per cent production in poultry, diary, horticulture, pisciculture since the State had plenty of land, water, minerals and manpower resources. Unfortunately only 25 per cent of the agricultural produce was coming from the State and the balance was obtained from other States.
Telangana farmers were supplying only 20 per cent of vegetables and the rest was coming from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Same was the case with milk. Hyderabad required 20 lakh litres of milk per day, but the government could supply only 4 lakh litres.
“A cow in Israel yielded 40 litres milk per day while it is just 4 litres in Telangana,” Mr. Reddy said and added that going for newer technology was essential to boost the production.
As many as 72 constituencies in the State had no water and had to depend on rain-fed agriculture. There was also an acute shortage of groundwater. There was need to follow Israeli technology which ensured maximum yield with less water. “We want to promote horticulture in 10 lakh hectares,” the Minister said.
To a question, he said after the Cabinet approval the loan wavier scheme would be implemented benefiting 32 lakh farmers. The government was committed to honour all the promises it made in the manifesto. “In next five years no Telangana farmer should visit banks for loans,” Mr. Reddy said.
