Mulugu: Telangana Planning Board Vice Chairman Dr. G. Chinnareddy on Sunday called upon farmers in the state to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetable and milk production, stating that it would not only meet Telangana’s domestic requirements but also open up significant export opportunities.
Addressing the 11th Foundation Day celebrations of the Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University at its headquarters in Mulugu, Dr. Chinnareddy said horticulture and allied sectors have immense potential to substantially enhance farmers’ incomes if supported with focused policies and adequate government assistance.
He urged both the Central and State governments to provide enhanced subsidies to expand the area under fruit and vegetable cultivation across Telangana. Stressing the importance of youth participation, he proposed the establishment of a dedicated skill development centre at the university to attract and train young people in modern horticulture practices.
Dr. Chinnareddy emphasised the need for a new, comprehensive horticulture policy tailored to Telangana’s agro-climatic conditions. Highlighting crop-specific opportunities, he said the state has vast potential for grape cultivation and called for intensified research on Kollapur mangoes and Balanagar custard apples, citing their unique qualities and strong export prospects. He also suggested that Telangana adopt horticulture-centric policy models similar to those implemented by the Maharashtra government.
The Planning Board Vice Chairman added that the state government is actively working to support farmers by supplying quality seeds, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, and farm machinery at subsidised rates, thereby reducing cultivation costs and improving productivity.
Presiding over the programme, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Danda Raji Reddy said Telangana must increase vegetable cultivation to over 12 lakh acres to meet growing demand. He noted that the university is giving special emphasis to skill development and hands-on training for students to make them industry-ready.
Dr. Raji Reddy further announced that the university will soon launch new research projects focusing on advanced and cutting-edge technologies, including post-harvest management, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML), and remote sensing, to improve efficiency, reduce losses, and enhance farmers’ returns.
As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, teaching and non-teaching staff who rendered outstanding services to the university were felicitated with awards. The special Foundation Day lecture was delivered by Dr. S. D. Shikhamani, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr. YSR Horticultural University. Speaking on “Application of Artificial Intelligence in Horticulture”, he highlighted how modern technologies are becoming crucial in boosting productivity and sustainability in the horticulture sector.
During an interactive session, farmers raised concerns related to the expansion of vegetable and fruit cultivation, fluctuating market prices, and high commissions charged by middlemen. They also appealed to the government for assured support prices for horticultural produce to safeguard farm incomes.
The programme was attended by Registrar Dr. A. Bhagavan, Vice-Chancellor of PV Narasimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University Dr. M. Gnana Prakash, former Vice-Chancellor of Konda Laxman Horticultural University Dr. B. Neeraja Prabhakar, Dean of Horticulture Dr. J. China, Director of Research Dr. D. Lakshminarayana, Director of Extension Dr. Suresh Kumar, Director of Industrial and International Programmes Dr. N. Srinivasan, University Librarian Dr. M. Rajasekhar, Dr. Veeranjaneyulu, board members Dr. P. Prashanth and Dr. B. Anita Kumar, along with faculty members, students, and a large number of farmers.
