Telangana: KTR interacts with oil palm farmers, assures more incentives once BRS returns to power

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 8 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) met with oil palm farmers in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Sunday to understand their concerns, experiences, and suggestions.
During his recent visit to the district, KTR interacted at length with farmers cultivating oil palm. He reviewed the outcomes of the crop diversification initiative introduced by the previous BRS government and discussed the challenges currently being faced by farmers, according to a release.

Speaking on the occasion, KTR said that the vision of expanding oil palm cultivation to 2 million acres in Telangana was conceived by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
He explained that the BRS government's objective was to develop oil palm cultivation on the lines of Malaysia and Indonesia, thereby reducing India's dependence on imported edible oils while enabling farmers to earn nearly three times the income they receive from traditional crops such as paddy.
KTR stated that during the BRS government's tenure, oil palm cultivation in the state expanded from around 150,000 acres to nearly 300,000 acres. He added that if the present Congress government continues to support the sector, the cultivated area could grow to 700,000 acres.

During the interaction, several farmers shared their experiences. Anil, an IT professional working from home for HCL, said he cultivates oil palm on seven acres. He explained that the crop began yielding after four years and is now producing 4 to 5 tonnes per acre. He noted that the crop provides a steady monthly income, comparable to a salaried job. Other farmers pointed out that oil palm is more resilient to changing weather conditions and requires less water than paddy cultivation, a release noted.
The farmers also raised several issues with KTR. They claimed that there is a need for greater mechanisation due to labour shortages and requested government support for installing additional drip irrigation lines as the trees mature. They also appealed to the Central Government to implement anti-dumping measures, stating that cheap palm oil imports are hurting domestic farmers.

Responding to the farmers' suggestions, KTR assured them that a future BRS government would provide greater support to oil palm growers. He promised higher subsidies for purchasing agricultural machinery such as tractors and slashers to encourage mechanisation. He also announced special assistance for the installation of second-stage drip irrigation systems required as plantations mature.
According to a release, KTR further announced that BRS would organise special study tours to Malaysia so that farmers could directly observe world-class oil palm cultivation practices. He said farmers would be able to study advanced cultivation techniques, mechanisation, and efficient water management methods, which could then be adapted for use in Telangana.
During the meeting, KTR also sharply criticised the present Congress government. He alleged that it had completely failed to effectively utilise the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, allowing large volumes of water to flow into the sea while farmers' crops were drying up.

Questioning the government's approach, KTR said, "If there is a small leakage in one part of a house, would you demolish the entire house?" He argued that setting aside the entire Kaleshwaram project because of a problem in one section of the Medigadda Barrage was seriously harming farmers' interests. He demanded that the government immediately commission the Kannepalli Pump House, lift water, fill the reservoirs, and save standing crops, the release said.

KTR said that farmers' welfare has always been KCR's life's mission and praised Telangana's farmers for setting an example for the rest of the country in crop diversification. He expressed confidence that BRS would return to power in 2028 and stated that the party would then fully realise its goal of making Telangana the state with the largest area under oil palm cultivation in India. (ANI)