Telangana, USDA explore opportunities for agricultural cooperation

WASHINGTON DC : On the third day of Telangana Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy's visit to America, the team led by the Minister himself held discussions with representatives of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) about potential collaborations in various fields such as IT, Farm Economics, Seed Technology, Post Harvest Management, Marketing, Emerging Technologies, and Newer Planting Tech. The discussions aimed to explore opportunities for cooperation and the exchange of advanced agricultural technologies to benefit Telangana farmers.

During the discussions, Niranjan Reddy emphasised the importance of investing in agriculture and allied sectors for future generations. He highlighted the significant progress made in Telangana agriculture under the leadership of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who had deep knowledge of agriculture in creating employment opportunities.

The Minister once again praised the initiatives taken by the Telangana government, such as the Rythu Bandhu scheme, which provided crop investment to farmers, and Mission Kakatiya project, which restored ponds and improved water resources.

Minister Niranjan Reddy also mentioned the Kaleswaram Lift Irrigation Project and the provision of 24-hour free electricity to the agriculture sector as measures that have boosted agricultural productivity and reduced migration in Telangana. He noted that Telangana has surpassed Punjab in paddy production and highlighted the favorable climatic conditions in India for year-round crop cultivation.

During the visit to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in Washington DC, Minister Niranjan Reddy met NIFA Director Manjit Mishra and other officials. NIFA is an agency of the USDA that focuses on research to improve agriculture, promote technological innovation, and ensure environmental balance.

Director Manjit Mishra who spoke on the occasion said that NIFA Director Manjit Mishra emphasisd the significance of research in driving agricultural development. He acknowledged that research plays a crucial role in advancing the agricultural sector in any country. However, he also highlighted the critical role of politicians in effectively turning research findings into desired ones. outcomes. He said that KCR was a visionary leader and he met his son Minister KT Rama Rao at the World Food Prize Organization.

Niranjan Reddy was accompanied by Telangana Agriculture Secretary Raghunandan Rao, ISTA Presidents, Telangana Seed Development Corporation MD Kesavulu, and Telangana Digital Media Director Kontham Dilip during the visit to NIFA.