Telangana Produces Only One-Third of Its Vegetable Requirement
Table of Contents
Relevance (UPSC)
TGPSC GR IPaper – IV: Economy and Development
For Prelims:
- Horticulture Sector, Vegetable Production Deficit, Per Capita Consumption (250g/300g), Production Coverage (32%), Post-Harvest Losses, Seasonal Shortages, Onion Deficit, Additional Acreage Requirement, Drip Irrigation, Protected Cultivation.
For Mains:
- Food & Nutritional Security, Agricultural Productivity Gap, Supply Chain Strengthening, Processing Infrastructure, Value Addition, Climate Variability, Pest & Disease Pressure, Price Volatility, Import Dependence, Sustainable Horticulture Development.
Why in News?
Telangana is facing a severe shortfall in vegetable production despite having a favourable agro-climate and access to modern cultivation technologies. The state currently produces only about one-third of its vegetable requirement, making it heavily dependent on inflows from other regions.
Current Production Scenario
- Telangana has a favourable agro-climate and access to modern cultivation technologies.
- Despite this, the state produces only about one-third of its vegetable requirement.
- At the benchmark consumption level of 250 grams per person per day:
- Annual requirement: 34.67 million metric tonnes
- Production meets only 32.22% of demand
- Resulting deficit: 23.50 million metric tonnes
- At the recommended dietary intake of 300 grams per person per day:
- Annual requirement increases to 41.61 million metric tonnes
- Production covers only 26.84% of demand
- Resulting deficit: 30.44 million metric tonnes
- Area under vegetable cultivation:
- 1.12 lakh acres
- Total production:
- 11.17 million metric tonnes
- Average productivity:
- 9.89 tonnes per acre
- The shortfall has led to heavy dependence on vegetable inflows from other regions to meet daily consumption needs.
Crop-wise Deficit
Significant shortages are observed in:
- Onion – Deficit of 3.77 lakh metric tonnes (requires 44,549 additional acres)
- Leafy vegetables – Shortfall of 2.77 lakh metric tonnes (needs 59,045 acres)
- Potato – Deficit of 2.15 lakh metric tonnes (requires 26,806 acres)
- Other gaps include bhendi (okra) and tomato
To achieve self-sufficiency, experts estimate that about 2.69 lakh additional acres would be required after accounting for post-harvest losses
Seasonal Supply Instability
Seasonal shortages aggravate the situation:
- Tomato – May to August
- Onion – July to October/November
- Leafy vegetables – January to August
- Potato – May to December
Staggered planting has been recommended to ensure year-round availability.
Major Constraints
The widening gap is attributed to:
- Pest and disease pressure
- Climate variability
- Post-harvest losses
- Limited processing capacity
Specific issues include:
- Sucking pests, borers, fruit fly infestations
- Viral diseases (yellow vein mosaic, leaf curl)
- Fungal diseases (phytophthora, anthracnose)
- Extreme temperatures and excess rainfall
Way Forward
- Strengthening supply chains
- Expanding processing infrastructure
- Promoting Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- Encouraging value addition
- Reducing dependency on imports
- Stabilising prices
Conclusion
Telangana’s vegetable production deficit highlights structural challenges in horticulture, including productivity gaps, post-harvest losses, and supply chain inefficiencies. Addressing these issues through expansion of cultivation area, technological interventions, and improved market infrastructure is essential to ensure food security, price stability, and farmer income sustainability.
CARE MCQ
With reference to Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), consider the following statements:
- FPOs may be registered under the Companies Act or the Cooperative Societies Act.
- SFAC supports State Governments in promoting FPOs.
- The Government has launched a scheme to promote 10,000 FPOs by 2027–28.
- The 10,000 FPO scheme was launched in 2015.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: C
Explanation
Statement 1 is Correct.
FPOs can be registered under Part IXA of the Companies Act or under the Cooperative Societies Act of the concerned States.
Statement 2 is Correct.
SFAC supports States in the formation and promotion of FPOs.
Statement 3 is Correct.
The Central Sector Scheme aims to form and promote 10,000 FPOs by 2027–28.
Statement 4 is Incorrect.
The scheme was launched on 29 February 2020, not in 2015.
Introduction
- Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is a collective of farmers registered under:
- Part IXA of Companies Act (as Producer Company)
- State Cooperative Societies Act
- Objective: Collectivisation of small & marginal farmers for economies of scale in production & marketing.
- Supported by Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) under Ministry of Agriculture.
- Central Sector Scheme (2020): Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs till 2027-28.
- Launched by PM Narendra Modi on 29 Feb 2020 (Chitrakoot).
- Based on:
- Produce Cluster Area approach
- One District One Product (ODOP) model.
Objectives
- Form 10,000 new FPOs with holistic support.
- Improve productivity & sustainable farming.
- Provide 5 years handholding support.
- Develop agri-entrepreneurship & ensure long-term sustainability.
