KHAMMAM: Farm experts have expressed concern over a fall in area over which pulses are being cultivated in Khammam district.
The extent of pulses has come down to 7,999 acres in 2022 against 21,089 acres in 2021. Though farm officials decided to raise green gram over 25,000 acres in the district during the present Kharif, farmers cultivated the crop only over 6,889 acres.
Red gram is being raised on 232 acres in the present year against 2,933 acres in 2021. Green gram is being cultivated on only 17 acres against 5,555 acres in Chintakani mandal. In Konigerla mandal, red gram and green gram have been raised only over 2,000 acres this year against 5,000 acres last year.
Farmer leader B. Rambabu said last time, farmers faced a huge loss when they cultivated green gram and red gram. But the state government did not pay them any compensation. They have thus shifted to other crops.
Farm expert M. Sudhakar said: “State government should encourage pulses as they have high demand. Consumers are buying green gram dal at ₹100 per kg and red gram at ₹112 per kilo. Their prices will now only shoot up with major reduction in their area of cultivation. The need of the hour is government coming up with a good crop insurance scheme for pulses,” he stated.
It is said farmers chose not to cultivate pulses due to incessant rains during August and September as well.
