Telangana govt. approves outsourcing of 175 Horticulture Extension Officers
However, the Telangana State Horticulture Officers Association (TGHO) has raised objections to the government's decision, citing concerns that many of these officers to be recruited, who had worked under the Micro Irrigation Programme (MIP) till 2020, lack the necessary qualifications, such as a Diploma or Degree in horticulture.
'It is not right to continue their services again as they do not possess a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in horticulture. If eligible candidates are given the posts, farmers can receive advice in a scientific manner,' said an office-bearer of the TGHO, adding that they are requesting the government to appoint qualified officers.
The TGHO has demanded that the government sanction new Horticulture Extension Officer positions on a regular basis, similar to the Agriculture department. They also want the number of existing horticultural officers to be doubled to ensure adequate coverage.
The current staff strength in the Horticulture Department has remained unchanged since its sanction in 1982, despite the vast potential for growth in vegetable, fruit, and palm oil cultivation. Each Horticulture Officer currently has to travel to 5-10 mandals, and only 100 personnel are working at the field level across the State.
When contacted over phone, Director of Horticulture Department Shaik Yasmeen Basha said that the department would provide required training to the proposed Horticulture Extension Officers before sending them to the field. She also mentioned that employees who had worked with the MIP had been requesting the government for postings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
1.79 lakh visitors throng Lalbagh flower show on I-Day
As many as 1,79,090 people visited the Independence Day flower show organised in Lalbagh Botanical Garden on Friday bringing in a revenue of ₹85 lakh to the Horticulture Department. The flower show was organised around the theme, 'Veera Rani Kittur Chennamma and Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna'. It was inaugurated on August 7 and will conclude on August 17. Since its inauguration, the show had the highest attendance on the occasion of Independence Day. A total of 1.45 lakh adults, 13,720 children and 19,650 school students visited the show on Friday, said M. Jagadeesh, Joint Director, Parks and Gardens, Horticulture Department. A floral replica of the fort of Kittur, horse-mounted statues of Chennamma and Rayanna, and other monuments from Kittur kingdom were the major attractions.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- The Hindu
No private walking tours in Cubbon Park: Horticulture Dept.
After beginning its guided walking tour, Cubbon Walks, a week ago, the Horticulture Department has now halted private walking tours inside the Cubbon Park. For years now, many private groups organised guided walks, including heritage walks, at the park. A recent government order specified the dos and don'ts of Cubbon Park that in order to conduct any activities that involve more than 20 people, prior permission should be taken. Authorities have now said that private walking tours inside the park will not be allowed for the time being. 'I received a call three days ago from the officials of the Horticulture Department asking me to cancel the heritage walk that was organised at the park during the weekend. They asked me to refund the money to those who had made the bookings and that I did not have permission to conduct the walk. I was also told to take down all the social media posts and blogs related to the heritage walks,' said Raksha Nagaraj, founder of Bengaluru Prayana. We did not want to discourage the public from creating awareness about the history and flora and fauna of the Cubbon Park, however it should not be organised in the form of commercial programmes, the officials said. 'The rules clearly say that prior permission should be taken before conducting commercial activities inside the park. Now even if private parties approach us to organise walks or other activities, we will not give them permission as we have to hold some discussions regarding this with our higher authorities and the Cubbon Park Conservation Committee,' said G. Kusuma, deputy director, Cubbon Park, Horticulture Department. Ms. Kusuma said, 'We have no objections, if someone wants to do it for free. If the same people who are conducting private tours want to be integrated with our tours as guides, then we will see how we can accommodate that too. But we do not want people to make money using the name of Cubbon Park. This is not just for walking tours, we are not permitting any commercial activities in Cubbon Park, including yoga and meditation.' The organisers of the private walking tour opined that not permitting other groups to conduct tours in the public park results in a monopoly like set up, especially since Cubbon Walks, organised by the Department, also charges ₹200.
Hans India
22-07-2025
- Hans India
Oil Palm Cultivation Promoted as a Path to Prosperity: Officials Highlight Benefits and Government Support in Beechupalli Training Program
Gadwal: An awareness and training program on oil palm cultivation was conducted at the TG Oilfed Nursery premises in Beechupalli, under the supervision of the Horticulture Department in collaboration with TG Oilfed. The program targeted field-level officials from the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development departments, including Assistant Project Officers, Engineering Consultants, Technical Assistants, Assistants, and Panchayat Secretaries. The session was organized with the goal of ensuring interdepartmental coordination to achieve the district's ambitious oil palm cultivation target. The event saw the participation of District Horticulture Officer M.A. Akbar and TG Oilfed District In-charge Nagireddy as chief guests. District's Oil Palm Target for FY 2025–26: 3,500 Acres Speaking on the occasion, District Horticulture Officer M.A. Akbar and Divisional Horticulture Officer Rajashekar stated that the government has set a target of 3,500 acres for oil palm cultivation in Jogulamba Gadwal district during the 2025–26 financial year. To meet this target, coordinated efforts are being undertaken between the Horticulture Department, TG Oilfed, and the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development departments. Key Benefits of Oil Palm Cultivation: The officers elaborated on the numerous advantages of oil palm farming for local farmers: Long-Term Income: Once planted, oil palm trees provide stable income for up to 30 years. Low Risk: The crop is resistant to pests and unaffected by unseasonal rains or hailstorms. Intercropping Opportunities: Farmers can grow intercrops to earn additional income. Price Assurance: Under the 1993 Oil Palm Act, companies are mandated to buy oil palm fruit at a pre-determined monthly price, ensuring farmers are protected from market fluctuations. Affordable Saplings: The government provides high-quality oil palm saplings at just ₹20. Drip Irrigation Subsidy: 100% subsidy for SC/ST farmers, 90% for small and marginal farmers, and 80% for large farmers. Annual Financial Support: ₹2,100 per acre for crop management ₹2,100 for intercropping Total of ₹4,200 per acre per year Over four years, farmers receive a total subsidy of ₹16,800 directly credited to their accounts. Additionally, there are no marketing issues, as companies purchase the produce regularly, ensuring a seamless selling process. Officials Urge Mass Adoption Field-level officials were encouraged to spread awareness among farmers and promote large-scale adoption of oil palm cultivation. Given its income potential, minimal risks, and strong government support, officials urged farmers to take up oil palm cultivation in a big way to secure a golden future for themselves and the agricultural economy. This initiative marks a significant step toward sustainable agriculture and economic stability for farmers in the region.
