Agriculture in Telangana: From Plight to Pride

Agriculture in Telangana: From Plight to Pride
Moumita Barman, Apoorva Ramachandra

Over the span of less than a decade, the agricultural sector in Telangana has undergone a remarkable transformation, transitioning from a state of despair to one of prosperity. This transformation is evidenced by significant increases in gross value added and cultivated land area, outpacing the national growth rate. The vision of inclusive growth, articulated by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, underscored the imperative of uplifting the marginalized sections of society. Given that a substantial proportion of the state's population depended on agriculture, enhancing the viability of farming and allied activities was paramount for addressing poverty concerns. However, historical neglect, reflected in high percentages of fallow land, and a myriad of challenges including water scarcity, declining productivity, and unremunerative prices, posed formidable obstacles. To address these challenges, the government implemented a series of initiatives such as farm loan waivers, Mission Kakatiya, and promoting farm mechanization. This paper explores the trajectory of agricultural indicators, government interventions, and schemes that have propelled Telangana's agricultural sector to its current state of success. Finally, it examines future challenges and draws conclusions regarding the path forward for sustaining and further enhancing agricultural prosperity in the state

Agricultural sector, Transformation, Prosperity, Gross value added, Declining productivity