Telangana govt encourages horticulture expansion this Kharif amid El Niño concerns
Flower cultivation records the sharpest increase, followed by spices and red chilli, as the State considers better vegetable supply chains, cold storage facilities and intercropping in oil palm plantations.
Horticulture and Sericulture Director Shaik Yasmeen Basha advocated drip-irrigated oil palm cultivation in the context of rainfall concerns, describing it as a suitable option.
HYDERABAD: Farmers in Telangana expanded the area under horticultural crops during Kharif 2026, with flowers, spices and red chilli recording substantial increases amid concerns over deficient rainfall and irrigation stress.
Figures presented at a review meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao showed that flower cultivation rose by 198%, followed by other spices at 192% and red chilli at 80%. Vegetable acreage increased by 66% and turmeric by 21%, while the area under fruit cultivation grew by 1%. The comparison period and absolute acreage figures were not specified.
At the meeting in Hyderabad, the Minister directed Horticulture Department officials to encourage horticultural cultivation and ensure farmers received high-quality vegetable seeds.
He also called for measures to supply vegetables to other states. Discussions covered strengthening transport and marketing networks and developing cold storage facilities to support the movement of perishable produce.
Oil palm cultivation and opportunities for additional income through intercropping were another focus. Nageswara Rao said some farmers were growing cocoa alongside oil palm and asked officials to encourage the practice to improve farm earnings.
Horticulture and Sericulture Director Shaik Yasmeen Basha advocated drip-irrigated oil palm cultivation in the context of rainfall concerns, describing it as a suitable option.
However, the use of drip irrigation alone does not establish a crop’s suitability for water-stressed areas. The account of the meeting did not provide a water-availability assessment supporting that recommendation.
