The government has instructed the officials to prepare an action plan within 15 days on comprehensive development of turmeric and red chilli crops.
Chief Secretary S.K.Joshi directed the Agriculture and Horticulture department officials discuss with farmers, scientists and traders and prepare the plan.
In a review meeting held at the Secretariat here on Wednesday, Mr. Joshi said that about 70,000 farmers were cultivating turmeric crop in 1.10 lakh hectares and red chilli crop in 1.40 lakh hectares in Khammam, Nizamabad, Warangal, Jagtial, Bhupalapalli, Mahabubabad, Bhadradri and other districts.
Road map
The agriculture officers in these areas should be given special training so that they in turn could guide the farmers and ensure better yield through use of fertilisers, pesticides and drip irrigation.
Mr.Joshi said that a road map be prepared for the development of these crops in the next three to five years. Integrated pest management, market linkage, buyers and sellers meet, price stabilisation, supply of seeds should be part of the road map, he said. Measures be taken to provide value addtion to the two commercial crops.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Parthasarathi said in addition to turmeric, red chilli, ginger, garlic and eight other types of spices were being cultivated in Telangana. A spice park with an outlay of ₹30 crore was being set up in Padagal of Nizamabad district. Incentives to turmeric and chilli crops would be extended with the cooperation of the Centre, he said.