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

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.

Farmers’ concerns

Farmers have consistently raised issues with the supply chain to sell vegetables, spices, fruits, and others, which is not as well defined as the paddy supply chain. Besides, they want more cold storage facilities and means to export the produce to other States.

Farmers-wholesale buyers linkage

The senior official said that they spoke with organisations which operate community kitchens — which provide food to students of government schools and colleges — on supplying the vegetables and other horticulture produce from local farmers. As the organisations procure the produce from aggregators, officials contacted the latter and tied them up with the local farmers, ensuring the produce has buyers. Currently, 12 out of 39 community kitchens across the State are operating.

Cold storages

The next action plan is to set up cold storages, provide 15% subsidy to set up cold rooms (costs around ₹10 lakh) for individual farmers, he said. Other initiatives include setting up stalls at residential complexes where farmers can sell fresh farm produce. This is being tried at a gated community in Ibrahimpatnam. A few more initiatives are being planned to plug gaps farmers suffer from between harvest and sale. Horticulture department officials said more farmers may opt for the transition since they have understood water resources may become scarce in the coming weeks.

Districts with maximum increase

As per latest information from the Horticulture department, Nalgonda, Nagarkurnool, Vikarabad, Mahabubabad and Mahabubnagar recorded the highest increase in area utilised for vegetables, spices, fruits and others.

District Horticulture and Sericulture Officer (DHSO) Nalgonda T. Sekhar said that farmers opted mix of horticulture crops including chillis, brinjal, gourd, tomato and others.

DHSO Mahabubangar K. Venugopal said that rather than replacing complete paddy sown area, farmers began by cultivating horticulture crops in a part of their land. “They have reaped the first harvest and recorded returns,” said Mr. Venugopal. In the case of most vegetables, the crop comes for the first harvest six to eight weeks from transplanting or  sowing, and further harvests from the same crop will continue for around eight more weeks.