Unproductive Idea

Context: The crop diversification model proposed by the Telangana Government is coercive is nature and takes away the freedom of farmers.

Telangana govt. view on crop diversification:

• Need: To reduce acreage under paddy which is water intensive and is over supplied and has pushed for other crops like red gram, cotton etc.
• More income to farmers: Govt. believes that it would fetch higher returns to farmers.

Critique of the steps:

• Forceful implementation : Coercing farmers and restricting options to maximize income goes against the trend of minimum governance. 

• Disobedience may lead to losing Rs 5000/ acre under Rythu Bandhu Scheme.

• No assessment of land: Govt. should have had done land surveys and assessed local agri-ecological conditions prior to allotment of crops.

• Choice of alternative crops: 

• Cotton: highly sensitive to weather aberrations and is also vulnerable to pests, also bulk of cotton farmers are committing suicide
• Red gram: known for high volatility in production and prices.

Way Forward :

• Incentivize rather coerce: Like other states, crop diversification should be based over incentives rather than forceful non-deliberated adoption. (Haryana is offering Rs 7000/acre for replacing rice with maize)