Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Telangana Plans Major Vegetable Expansion After Cultivation Decline
Telangana is growing fewer vegetables than it used to.
The cultivated area fell from about 3 lakh acres to around 1 lakh acres.
Because of this, the state had to buy many vegetables from other states.
The agriculture minister said the state imported about 6 lakh metric tonnes in 2025-26.
The government wants farmers to grow vegetables on more land during the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
It also wants Telangana to produce enough vegetables to supply other states.
The minister blamed excessive fertiliser use and current subsidy policies for part of the problem.
The government is also planning a large wholesale market at Koheda.
Vegetable cultivation in Telangana has fallen from 3 lakh to about 1 lakh acres, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said.
The state imported around 6 lakh metric tonnes of vegetables from other states during 2025-26.
Vegetables were cultivated on 72,583 acres during the current monsoon season, above the usual 51,000 acres.
The government plans to cultivate vegetables on 1 lakh acres during the current Kharif season and another 1 lakh acres during Rabi.
Nageswara Rao attributed the decline to excessive fertiliser use and subsidy policies, while outlining plans for a 170-acre wholesale market at Koheda.
- Who
- Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and the Telangana government.
- What
- Plans were announced to expand vegetable cultivation after a sharp decline in the area under cultivation.
- When
- The figures cover 2025-26 and the current monsoon, Kharif, and upcoming Rabi seasons.
- Where
- Telangana, including the proposed wholesale market site at Koheda near the Outer Ring Road.
- Why
- The government wants to reduce vegetable imports, improve production, support market demand, and eventually supply other states.
- Current cultivation area
- About 1 lakh acres, down from 3 lakh acres.
- Vegetable imports
- Around 6 lakh metric tonnes during 2025-26.
- Monsoon cultivation
- 72,583 acres, compared with the usual 51,000 acres.
- Expansion target
- 1 lakh acres during Kharif and another 1 lakh acres during Rabi.
- Proposed wholesale market
- A 170-acre facility at Koheda, expected within two to three years.
- Fertiliser policy
- The minister called for revised subsidies that balance urea use and encourage soil-conserving fertilisers.
- Agricultural university ranking
- Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University rose from 37th to 19th in the IIRF ranking for agricultural universities.