metro india news  I hyderabad

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister  N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday said Telangana must strengthen research, expand exports, and upgrade infrastructure to remain the “Seed Bowl of India.”

Addressing the Hyderabad Seed Conclave 2025, organised by the Seedmen Association at a hotel, Jubilee Hills, he described seed companies as “nation-builders” and assured them of full government support. The conclave was also addressed by Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao, MLA K Satyanarayana and others.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said quality seed was the single most important input in agriculture, forming the base of food security and farmer prosperity. “Seeds determine yield, enhance the efficiency of fertilisers and irrigation, and stand at the centre of the agricultural cycle. High-yielding varieties are essential to sustain farmers’ incomes,” he remarked.

He praised Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, describing him as unique among Indian politicians for being a hands-on farmer himself. “He understands farmers’ hardships, is sympathetic to them and to seed companies, and under his leadership Telangana has achieved record production in both kharif and rabi seasons since December 2023,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. He added that Telangana had emerged as the number one paddy-producing state in the country under Nageswara Rao’s stewardship.

He called on seed companies to intensify research and development, particularly to develop new paddy varieties with higher yields and improved rice recovery. “Innovation across all crops is the path to improving farmer incomes,” he said. Uttam Kumar Reddy underlined the growing global presence of Telangana’s seed industry. He said rice and seed varieties from the state were already reaching the Philippines and efforts were on export them to Indonesia, South Africa, Burkina Faso and other African nations.

“Seed export has great potential. Just as our software industry carried Telangana’s name across the world, our seed industry can also cross boundaries and bring back reputation for the state,” he said, evoking applause once again. The Minister assured that the Congress government in Telangana would resolve all the problems being faced by the seed manufacturing companies.