Hyderabad: Telangana governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has advised the state govt to give top priority to the cultivation of pulse crops and oil palm, stating that India is currently facing a serious shortage of pulses and edible oils.Telangana state planning board vice chairperson and expert committee on El Nino impact chairperson G Chinna Reddy met the governor at Lok Bhavan on Saturday and submitted a comprehensive report on the impact of El Nino.The governor held detailed discussions with the delegation on agriculture and allied sectors. Drawing from his own agricultural family background, he shared his views and observations on several issues related to farming and agricultural development. Governor Shukla pointed out that India is experiencing a significant shortage of pulse crops, forcing the country to depend heavily on imports. He stated that the central govt spends approximately ₹34,054 crore every year on importing pulses to meet domestic demand.He said that India spends nearly ₹1.61 lakh crore annually on importing edible oils from foreign countries to meet national requirements. He emphasized that increasing domestic production of oil palm would substantially reduce this import burden. At the same time, he appreciated Telangana’s efforts, stating that oil palm cultivation in the State is progressing satisfactorily. The governor opined that expanding the cultivation of pulse crops and oil palm would help not only Telangana but also the entire country overcome shortages of these essential commodities and move towards greater self-reliance.He also appreciated the initiatives being taken by the Telangana govt to promote horticulture and vegetable cultivation.
