Hyderabad, June 20: Telangana's agricultural extension programme, Rythu Nestham, has emerged as a major platform for farmer education, benefiting more than 22.63 lakh farmers across the state through regular training and awareness initiatives.
Implemented through Rythu Vedikas, the programme is designed to connect farmers with agricultural experts and provide practical guidance on improving crop productivity, adopting modern technologies, and accessing government support schemes.
Officials said the initiative has completed 95 weeks of continuous outreach activities, covering a wide range of topics aimed at strengthening the farming sector. Discussions have included crop management techniques for paddy, cotton, maize, pulses, and horticultural crops, along with sessions on natural farming, soil fertility, livestock management, and digital agriculture.
The programme is being conducted under the supervision of Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao with support from the Department of Agriculture and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University.
As climate-related challenges continue to affect agriculture, special focus has been placed on water conservation, climate-resilient farming methods, alternative cropping patterns, and rainfall management strategies. Officials believe these efforts are helping farmers make informed decisions in changing weather conditions.
To improve access to expert advice, video conferencing facilities have been introduced in nearly 1,600 Rythu Vedikas, allowing farmers to interact directly with scientists and seek solutions to field-level problems without travelling long distances.
The state government is also working to transform Rythu Vedikas into permanent agricultural knowledge centres that can serve as hubs for technology transfer, farmer awareness, and welfare programme implementation.
Agriculture officials said the initiative continues to encourage innovation in farming while highlighting successful practices adopted by progressive farmers across Telangana. Farmers have been urged to actively participate in the sessions and take advantage of the scientific recommendations being shared through the programme.
With increasing participation and statewide outreach, Rythu Nestham is playing an important role in strengthening Telangana's agricultural ecosystem and improving farmer livelihoods.
