Hyderabad, June 18 (RAHNUMA): Crop diversification is crucial for making agriculture resilient to climate change and ensuring stable farmer incomes, the NABARD Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) observed at its meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday.
The committee stressed reducing dependence on monoculture and promoting horticulture, livestock, fisheries, climate-smart technologies and value-added agricultural products. NABARD Chief General Manager B Uday Bhaskar highlighted initiatives such as the Rice-360 climate-smart paddy project, the Jiva natural farming programme, Maa Thota fruit orchards, micro-irrigation support and watershed development.
Telangana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Commission Chairman M Kodanda Reddy urged the state to emerge as a national model in crop diversification by expanding cultivation of vegetables, turmeric, oilseeds and pulses. He also called for subsidies on solar fencing to tackle monkey menace, establishment of custom hiring centres and stronger market support for farmers.
The Representatives from Telangana Grameena Bank, Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank, the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), various government departments, SERP, ICAR-NAARM, ICRISAT, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, voluntary organizations and agricultural experts participated in the meeting.
