Telangana government extensively promoted not to go for Cotton in the Kharif Season of 2016-17. This has resulted in acreage under cotton falling from 17 lakh hectares to 12 lakh hectares while there is an increase in acreage and yields of chili, pulses, and maize.
But then, the prices of the pulses dropped while Cotton prices soared. Farmers are of the opinion that the government had misguided them with wrong advice. So, the ruling party had decided to stay mum this season and let the farmers take the decision.
TRS can not afford to have a repeat of last year’s protests by farmers who were upset about the wrong advice of the government. With elections likely sometime next year (early election), the Pink cannot afford to upset farming community again.
