Telangana Draft Policy Focuses on Rice Exports, Crop Diversification!

Following directions from the state government, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University has prepared a draft policy on rice exports. A team of scientists led by Samarenḍu Mahanti and Vice-Chancellor Aldas Janayya studied national and international frameworks and submitted a report titled “Management of Telangana’s Surplus Rice Stocks – Export Revenue, Sustainability, and Crop Diversification.” The report recommends transforming the state into an international rice hub by promoting exports and aligning production with market demand. It also emphasizes maintaining a balance by safeguarding paddy cultivation where necessary while encouraging crop diversification. Paddy production in the state has increased significantly from 65.81 lakh tonnes in 2013–14 to 1.70 crore tonnes in 2024–25, while cultivation area expanded from 19.95 lakh hectares to 46.9 lakh hectares.

The report suggests selling surplus grain directly to registered private traders at market prices to reduce storage and management costs, or alternatively conducting auctions at procurement centers similar to practices in Chhattisgarh. If market prices fall below MSP, the difference can be compensated through direct cash transfers to farmers. To boost exports, the policy proposes establishing high-quality paddy clusters across 5 lakh hectares through collaboration between agriculture departments, universities, and civil supplies agencies. It also recommends advanced farming techniques, modern rice mills under public-private partnerships, and direct linkages with buyers in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Additionally, farmers are encouraged to shift partially towards horticulture, oilseeds, pulses, and millets through incentives, subsidies, and extension services to ensure sustainable agricultural growth.