Telangana has cut crop production estimates by more than half

Hyderabad, Sept 22: The Telangana state government has cut crop production estimates by more than half for this kharif season owing to drought conditions and longer dry spells in Telangana state.

The Officials have said that the total foodgrain production in the state last Kharif season was 82.52 lakh tonnes. Production during the Kharif season this year — set to end in another nine days — is estimated at 37.69 lakh tonnes, which amounts to a 54.3 percent reduction.

Experts have said that "the latest projections show an alarming trend in foodgrain production in the state and indicate that the state government will have to depend heavily on imports from other states to meet the demand and the government has even cut the productivity of crops to 16.1 percent."

The latest report on crop estimates was submitted by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. These estimates were prepared after deficit rainfall, dry spells and reduction in crop sown areas were taken into account.The report predicted a steep decline in production of rice, wheat, maize, red gram, black gram and green gram.

However, the government feels that the there would be a huge production of crops in Yasngi (Rabi) season in this year because of good rainfall predicted by IMD in October and November which would offset the loss in production of crops in Kharif season.