Hyderabad: Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao today said the State government was focusing on Mulberry and Tussar cultivation as it will reap in better harvest of 8 to 10 crops a year and get Rs 4 lakh income per acre. He exhorted the farmers to shift to Mulberry and Tussar cultivation and earn better income.
Speaking at an awareness program on Mulberry and Tussar seeds and latest practices at Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium here, Jupally said India occupies second place after China in Mulberry production in 2017. India was importing Tussar products from countries like America, Italy, Japan, France, Germany and England. While 10 lakhs of people are getting employment in China only about 80,000 people were relying on Tussar industry.
Krishna Rao said only 119 metric tons of Tussar was being produced in Telangana and the government will provide 70 per cent of subsidy for Mulberry sheds and Horticulture department will provide the rest of 30 per cent. The farmers, who shift to Mulberry and Tussar production, will have bright future, he remarked. Tussar seed production was possible even in non-conducive situations and the farmers can get more benefit, he observed. About 1000 Tussar farmers attended the meeting.
Horticulture Director Venkatram Reddy, NABARD CGM Vijay Kumar, Rural Development Joint Director Asha and others were present. (NSS)