Vision 2047 – Rare, a Plan To Pull Up Rural Telangana Economy by Its Boot Straps

Hyderabad: Unseasonal and sudden strong downpours that Telangana had been witnessing may just be one symptom of sudden unexpected changes in weather patterns and with climate change now a reality, and the agriculture sector in the state, which provides livelihood to nearly 55 per cent of rural population, is expected to get the much-needed support to adapt to the coming changes by way of the state preparing itself to become a leader in climate-smart agriculture.

As part of its Rural Agri Region Economy (RARE) strategy, the Telangana government has said that as part of the CURE–PURE–RARE spatial development model, the thrust on transforming rural agriculture and allied sectors-based economies will strengthen the ecosystem within which farmers produce, process, and market their outputs.

This strategy, under RARE, will see rural regions turn into hubs for climate-smart agriculture, livestock production, and forest-based livelihoods, coupled with adoption of latest agricultural technologies. According to the Telangana Rising 2047 vision document, agriculture and its allied sectors sustain the majority of rural livelihoods with nearly 55 per cent of rural population dependent on these sectors.

Noting that Telangana sets aside around 20 per cent of its public expenditure on agriculture, which is above the national average, the document states that the agricultural economy is anchored by crops, followed by the livestock sector, with aquaculture and forestry following them in terms of rural population engagement.

The state already has laid a foundation for the future plans for this sector with existing welfare measures that include Rythu Bharosa, loan waivers, and nutritional programmes like supply of fine rice through the public distribution system, which improved farmer security and household food access. It is building on these foundations that the state will make advances in nutrition science, next-generation crop innovation, including introducing climate-resilient crops. The commitment, the vision document says, is on long-term environmental sustainability.

While the RARE regions of the state will be involved in production, the PURE (Peri Urban Region Economy) regions will complement the agriculture sectors with agro-processing zones and value-addition clusters, ensuring that farmers derive higher incomes. Finally, the CURE (Core Urban Region Economy) zones will be tasked with the job of innovation, research, and digital

infrastructure to drive agriculture technologies, seed research, and market intelligence.