HYDERABAD: The TRS government has spent Rs 1,024 crore to enhance storage capacity of warehouses in the state in the last six years. However, the anticipated bumper yield of paddy, Bengal gram, maize and other crops may throw its storage plans topsy-turvy.
To plan for the future needs, the agriculture and marketing department plans to build 40 lakh metric tonne (MT) storage capacity at an estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore as soon as it gets the necessary approvals.
When Telangana was formed in 2014, the warehouse capacity, under the control of the state government, was only 4.17 lakh MT. Officials took up construction of 345 warehouses with nearly 20 lakh MT capacity on the directions of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who had then said that sowing area would increase tremendously once irrigation projects get completed.
True to the planning, Kaleshwaram water has reached most parts of the state, resulting in farmers taking up sowing operations in over 50 lakh acres in ‘yasangi’ (rabi) season. However, the warehousing capacity plans fell short of demand as 1.05 crore metric tonnes of paddy and several lakh tonnes of other crops are cultivated. With the onset of the monsoon in mid-June, the agriculture department is expecting that farmers might take up sowing operations in 1.35 crore acres in ‘vaanakalam’(kharif) season.
Though KCR has directed the officials to temporarily store paddy and other agricultural produce in government schools and function halls, these facilities would not be available for storage once lockdown is lifted.
The agriculture and marketing department has prepared a detailed project report, estimating that Telangana requires at least 40 lakh MT of warehouse storage capacity, in addition to the existing 25 lakh MT capacity to store agriculture produce.
The department has sent the report to the CM, stating the 40 LMT capacity godown construction is estimated to cost Rs 2,500 crore with a rider that these warehouses are needed as early as possible due tofarmer welfare sops. The required quantity of fertilisers and seeds too would also go up along with crop area, thereby requiring more storage space. Construction of new warehouses would commence soon as the chief minister has given the green signal for the project, an official said.
To plan for the future needs, the agriculture and marketing department plans to build 40 lakh metric tonne (MT) storage capacity at an estimated cost of Rs 2,500 crore as soon as it gets the necessary approvals.
When Telangana was formed in 2014, the warehouse capacity, under the control of the state government, was only 4.17 lakh MT. Officials took up construction of 345 warehouses with nearly 20 lakh MT capacity on the directions of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who had then said that sowing area would increase tremendously once irrigation projects get completed.
True to the planning, Kaleshwaram water has reached most parts of the state, resulting in farmers taking up sowing operations in over 50 lakh acres in ‘yasangi’ (rabi) season. However, the warehousing capacity plans fell short of demand as 1.05 crore metric tonnes of paddy and several lakh tonnes of other crops are cultivated. With the onset of the monsoon in mid-June, the agriculture department is expecting that farmers might take up sowing operations in 1.35 crore acres in ‘vaanakalam’(kharif) season.
Though KCR has directed the officials to temporarily store paddy and other agricultural produce in government schools and function halls, these facilities would not be available for storage once lockdown is lifted.
The agriculture and marketing department has prepared a detailed project report, estimating that Telangana requires at least 40 lakh MT of warehouse storage capacity, in addition to the existing 25 lakh MT capacity to store agriculture produce.
The department has sent the report to the CM, stating the 40 LMT capacity godown construction is estimated to cost Rs 2,500 crore with a rider that these warehouses are needed as early as possible due tofarmer welfare sops. The required quantity of fertilisers and seeds too would also go up along with crop area, thereby requiring more storage space. Construction of new warehouses would commence soon as the chief minister has given the green signal for the project, an official said.
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