The document discusses the proceedings of a brainstorming session on addressing agricultural issues in Telangana. It notes the fragile agricultural base and problems farmers are facing. A sub-group was formed to draft a mission statement: "To appreciate and analyse the problems of farmers in Telangana and support formulation and dissemination of public policy aimed at enriching the quality of farmers’ lives". The group proposed activities like field research, policy analysis, and workshops. They suggested the title "TAAG" for the forum. The workshop aims to discuss urgent actions, research/extension reforms, and new institutional models to benefit farmers. It also raises points on research consortia, KVK strengthening, ICT use, and value chain missions.

2. Picking the Thread from the 26th. August
Brainstorming Session
 The house echoed the fragile base of agriculture in
Telangana with only 40% of cultivable area under
irrigation; shrinking acreage under traditional tanks due
to neglect; depleting water table; predominance of small,
Marginal and tenant farmers and low cropping intensity.
 Emergence of risky cropping pattern particularly with
Cotton replacing traditional crops even in low rainfall areas
with light soils.
 Weak post harvest support and rising farmers’ suicides
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3. Interim Progress
A sub-group of participants of the brain storming session
was convened to sit over a series of meetings over the last
couple of weeks with Prof. Manohar Rao in the chair.
The sub-group came up with a draft statement of mission
for this forum of agriculture professionals in Telangana as
“To appreciate and analyse the problems of farmers in
Telangana and support formulation and dissemination of
public policy aimed at enriching the quality of farmers’
lives”. We could review the mission in the course of our
discussion during the day.
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4. Interim Progress (Contd.)
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To pursue the foregoing mission, the Forum would perform the
following activities;
1. To encourage , promote and carryout field based participatory
research to appreciate and analyse farmers problems and progress.
2. To analyse and suggest inputs for formulation of public policy
addressing issues in agriculture development.
3. To organise workshops, seminars and conferences for
dissemination of research findings and policy and prescriptions.
4. To empower women and rural youth with knowledge and skills
in agriculture and allied areas of rural economic activity.
5. To forge partnerships and networks at all levels for the benefit
of farmers. Given the mission and proposed activities, the title of
the Forum was suggested by the sub-group as ‘TAAG’.

5. Focus for Today’s Workshop
Going forward, can today’s workshop achieve;
1. A consensus on the three or four actions urgently
needed to soften the current agrarian crisis- 1st. Sessn.
2. How can the research and extension system be
revamped to provide relief to the farmers- 2nd. Sessn.
3. Can we innovate new or restructure existing
institutional models to benefit farmers- 3rd. Sessn.
4. Chart out a broad agenda for TAAG’s future, while
freezing the mission, activities and title-Last Sessn.
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6. Some Points to Ponder over…
1. Following the ICAR thrust on moving from NARS to
NAIS, how can we promote consortia based research
to solve the region specific problems of Telangana?
2. What is the health of the KVKs in the region and how
can they be strengthened with national benchmarks.
3. Progress in implementation of District Extension plans
4. Rethinking research - extension linkages including ICT
interventions. Scope for PPP/P partnerships and ‘out
of the box’ for streamlining extension in the new state.
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7. Some Points to Ponder over… (Contd.)
5. Moot value chain based micro-missions for the region’s
major crops- pulses and vegetables in Ranga Reddy
dist.; Castor in Nalgonda; Turmeric in N’bad.
6. Strengthen the co-operatives and how youngsters
could be groomed to provide leadership to co-ops.
7. Try new institutional models- Producers’ organisations,
Contract farming; women SHGs
8. Farmer centric options to reform and restructure
government departments, universities, research
stations etc. overcoming legacy issues.
Hemnath