Crop survey in slow lane

metro india news  I hyderabad

The digital crop survey being conducted across Telangana to record the crops cultivated by farmers and the area under cultivation in each survey number is progressing slower than expected, raising concerns among farmers. Although the government has set a one-month deadline for completing the survey, the process remains incomplete in several areas. The delay is reportedly due to a shortage of field staff, the requirement to visit every individual survey number, photograph the crops and upload the images through a mobile application, and record cultivation details separately for each land subdivision.

According to officials, the digital crop survey for the 2026–27 Kharif season covers 1,93,25,309 agricultural plots across the state. Of these, 1,46,67,370 plots had been surveyed so far, representing approximately 80 per cent of the total target. A total of 10,164 volunteers registered for the exercise statewide, of whom 9,820 installed the application and began conducting the survey. While some districts have reportedly completed 70 to 80 per cent of the work, progress remains comparatively low in districts such as Rangareddy and Medchal. With Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) already assigned more than 40 government responsibilities, the crop survey has been entrusted to village-level surveyors. 

The government has reportedly arranged for one surveyor in a regular village and two in a major village. Completing the exercise within the stipulated deadline has become a challenge in villages with a large number of survey numbers and limited personnel. Large distances between agricultural fields, difficulties in accessing certain locations and the time required to travel from one plot to another have limited the number of survey numbers that can be covered each day.

Delays in recording crops other than paddy

With paddy accounting for a significant share of the state's cultivated area, priority is reportedly being given to recording paddy cultivation details. However, the registration of other crops, including cotton, maize, red gram, black gram, green gram, vegetables and other crops, is said to be lagging behind. If the details of crops other than paddy remain incomplete, the resulting data may not accurately reflect the state's actual cropping pattern and cultivated area.

Concerns over inadequate monitoring

Critics argue that officials should not merely check the number of entries uploaded to the application but should also verify whether physical surveys are being conducted properly and whether the recorded crop details are accurate. Farmers have become particularly concerned following the government's announcement that crop procurement would be based on the details recorded in the application. They fear that if their cultivated crops are not properly registered, they could face difficulties when selling their produce through government procurement arrangements.

Farmers seek additional staff

Farmers are urging the state government to intervene and accelerate the survey, particularly in areas where a substantial number of survey numbers remain pending. They have called for additional personnel to be deployed, closer monitoring of incomplete surveys and special attention to ensuring that details of every crop are accurately recorded. Accurate and timely registration, they argue, is essential to prevent discrepancies in official records and avoid potential difficulties in accessing government procurement and other agricultural support schemes.