Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Pepper tiger -Lalita Iyer

Pepper tiger -Lalita Iyer

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jan 16, 2014   modified Modified on Jan 16, 2014
-The Week


Telangana leader claims he is making astronomical profits from capsicum farming

Telangana: Not many politicians who own land are farmers. But Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K. Chandrasekhara Rao is different. While he ensures Telangana remains a burning issue, Rao is also busy growing capsicum, potato, bitter gourd, and bottle gourd. The capsicum crop itself, he claims, will fetch him Rs.10 crore. His claim of huge returns and promise of land to farmers have invited criticism.

The son of a farmer, Rao was always interested in agriculture. "My father was a progressive farmer. We bought 59 acres in my son K.T. Rama Rao's and my name some years ago, but it remained unused," he said. "We started work only four years ago. In the first year and a half, we focused on building the infrastructure. The actual farming began later."

Rao's political opponents, especially Telugu Desam Party supremo Chandrababu Naidu, have accused him of turning his farm into a luxury resort. But Rao held a press briefing at his farmhouse to counter the allegations. "The farmhouse is a product of our labour. I developed it after taking a loan of Rs.45 lakh from the Bank of Baroda," Rao said. "Some people talk ill about me. This is not a luxury farmhouse, but a normal farm. I grow potatoes, capsicum and other vegetables, and also paddy and other food crops. We have 900-odd coconut trees besides mango, teak and other plantations. I developed the farm from scratch as I enjoy farming."

Rao took an additional loan of Rs.3 crore to build greenhouses on his farm. He also got Rs.90 lakh as subsidy from the National Horticulture Board. Today, he grows green, yellow and red capsicum on 10 acres using the greenhouse technique. The potatoes he grows on 45 acres are expected to fetch him Rs.1.7 crore.

Rao procured the seeds for the farm from Bangalore. His farm employs computerised automatic crop management and water management technology and a jet sprinkling system that he purchased from an Italian firm. "It controls the drip irrigation system while supplying water mixed with fertiliser and nutrition to the crop, depending on the age of the plant," explained Rao. "As a result, the water that would have been used for one acre in the conventional method now caters to six acres on my farm."

Rao swears by rainwater harvesting. "I have dug a pit that can store 200 crore litres of water. As the region received good rainfall last year, the pit is full. The borewells in the surrounding areas have also filled up, making the farmers happy," he said. The farm has a well, six borewells, an acre-size tank to store six crore litres of rainwater, and a dozen greenhouses. Besides, there are solar-powered borewells installed on trial basis. He also has milch cattle and sheep and has employed around 60 labourers, who live on the farm.

Rao's long-term plan is to replicate the model and usher in green revolution in Telangana after it becomes a state. He blamed the Andhra Pradesh government for not creating awareness among farmers about agriculture loans and farming technology. He proposed earmarking Rs.1,000 crore to encourage the use of greenhouse technology. "In the T-state, mechanised farming will be implemented as a pilot project in 20 villages in every district," said Rao.

He cited examples from other states to highlight the government's apathy towards farmers. "While Maharashtra and Bihar provide 75 per cent subsidy to farmers for greenhouse cultivation, Andhra Pradesh doesn't have any such provision. Telangana will have subsidised greenhouse farming," said Rao.

He reiterated his promise of giving three acres each to all Dalit farmers and of training them in scientific methods of agriculture to increase yield. He wants the new state to be divided into crop colonies, with focus on select crops besides the development of quality seeds. "Our country and each of its states should be self-sufficient in foodgrain," he said.

However, Naidu is not impressed. "The agriculture sector across the world is under stress," he said. "If one gets back what one has invested, that itself is an achievement these days. At the most, a farmer can get a little more than what he invested. However, getting Rs.1 crore an acre per annum on capsicum is unheard of."

Naidu accused Rao of fooling the farmers and the Dalits with lofty promises. He wanted to know where Rao would find enough land to give three acres to each Dalit family. And, even if he did, how he would ensure Rs.1 crore an acre.


The Week, 14 January, 2014, http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?programId=1073755754&contentId=15938078


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close