Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has come up with yet another new project — developing Telangana as the seed bowl of the country. Mr Rao has been promoting the need for making TS a major seed-producing state in view of its excellent climate and the availability of quality and variety of seeds.

In tune with Mr Rao’s thinking, the agriculture and cooperation department has come up with the new scheme titled ‘Strengthening of Seed Production Chain and Development of Infrastructure’.
As per the task force constituted for the programme, a seed production plan is being prepared for a period of five years — 2014-15 to 2018-19 to achieve 100 per cent seed replacement rate in TS.
The government allocated `50 crore in the 2014-15 Budget estimates for the production, promotion and multiplication of new varieties, production of soyabean and other crop seeds in the state to develop Telangana as a ‘seed bowl’.

Top priority is being given for the production of soyabean seeds and the development of specialised processing units and storage godowns in the state. As per guidelines, all research institutions and seed producing agencies have to plan for the production of green manure seeds.

The new scheme is being introduced during 2014-15. The entire amount allocated under the scheme is proposed towards the development of infrastructure facilities. Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy met Union agriculture minister Radhamohan Singh and sought Central assistance for the development of agriculture, horticulture and allied schemes.

“I have requested the Union Minister to take immediate steps for establishment of a horticulture university. Ours is a pro-farmer government and we will extend all support to agriculture, fisheries, and dairy and other agri-related avocations,” he said.