Hyderabad: The Telangana government is getting ready to advance the Rabi season after losing hopes on Kharif due to drought conditions.
Normally, the Kharif season lasts from June to September, and Rabi begins in October. After the initial good rains, farmers had undertaken extensive Kharif sowing, but the long dry spell stretching over nearly seven weeks led to crop damage. The government is planning to advance the Rabi season by two months, to mid-August if there are no rains.
The government will supply seeds at subsidised rates for wheat, barley, sesame, mustard, peas, maize, linseed, gram, cumin, onion, tomato, potato and oats which use less water instead of Kharif crops.
The idea to advance the Rabi was first mooted in the meeting convened by CM, K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and senior officials were present.
The CM advised them to wait till Augugust 15 before taking a final decision on advancing the Rabi season. In the meantime, officials were asked to prepare the modalities for advancing Rabi besides making arrangements to supply subsidised seeds. “We are hopeful of rain by Aug. 15, we are also preparing alternate plans,” the minister said.
