Paddy cultivation in Telangana reached a new high this Yasangi crop season, with nearly 54 lakh acres planted, a staggering increase of 160 percent over the season's normal cultivation area of 33.53 lakh acres. Paddy was grown on 64.54 million acres during the Vaanakalam (Kharif) season of 2022-23 and 35.84 million acres during the Yasangi season of 2021-22.
Though the cultivation area in this Yasangi season is less than in the Vaanakalam season, Agriculture department officials expect more paddy production (around 1.48 crore tonnes) than in the Vaanakalam season due to the higher yield during the Yasangi crop. The Vaanakalam crop yields approximately 20 tonnes per acre, while the Yasangi crop yields approximately 26 tonnes per acre.
As a result, Telangana is expected to be the largest paddy producer in the country for the Yasangi season this year. However, the high yield during the Yasangi season presents a challenge for the State government because processing it into raw rice yields less rice than boiled rice due to the high broken grain percentage in the State's high temperature conditions.
"It is both an opportunity as well as a challenge for us, considering the global demand for rice. As a result, we intend to request that the Centre permit boiled rice during this season," As per a top official in the Civil Supplies department.
On March 1, a team led by Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar will meet with Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi to present proposals to the Centre.
The officials are hopeful that their request will be considered in the wake of global demand for boiled rice. However, in light of the bitter experiences of the previous Yasangi season, when the Centre refused to purchase boiled rice and Telangana suffered losses after milling paddy, the State government is looking into other options to ensure farmers receive a fair price.
