Telangana to Launch Organic Markets Across Districts to Support Farmers

The Telangana government is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to strengthen organic farming by creating dedicated organic markets across district headquarters. The initiative aims to provide better marketing opportunities for farmers while ensuring consumers have access to safe and chemical free food products.

Officials have begun identifying suitable government land in Hyderabad and district centres for the establishment of these markets. District collectors have been instructed to speed up the land allocation process so that the project can be launched at the earliest.

The state currently has nearly 10,000 farmers cultivating crops organically across 61,125 acres. These farmers avoid chemical fertilizers, harmful pesticides, and genetically modified seeds, instead relying on natural farming practices and organic inputs that help maintain soil health and environmental sustainability.

Organic cultivation in Telangana includes a wide range of crops. Farmers are growing fruits such as mango, guava, and sapota, along with vegetables including tomato, brinjal, chilli, carrot, and drumstick. They also cultivate paddy, maize, millets, green gram, groundnut, sugarcane, and turmeric through natural farming methods.

To strengthen market access, the government had earlier introduced an Organic App that allows farmers to register their products and prices directly. While the digital platform has received encouraging support, officials observed that limited technological awareness among some farmers and consumers has restricted its reach.

As a result, the government has now decided to create physical marketplaces where buyers and farmers can interact directly. Authorities believe this will improve visibility for organic products and help build greater consumer confidence in certified produce.

In Hyderabad, officials from the marketing and horticulture departments have already identified around 50 busy locations for the first phase of the project. Organic markets are expected to begin at places with high public footfall, including the Secretariat, Assembly premises, BRK Bhavan, and other major government office complexes.

Initially, the markets will operate once a week. Depending on public response, the frequency may gradually increase to six days a week. This approach is expected to make fresh organic vegetables, fruits, grains, and other farm products more accessible to urban consumers.

The government is also planning to take organic produce closer to residential communities. With support from the cooperative department, organic stalls will be set up at prominent housing societies, gated communities, and large apartment complexes across Hyderabad. Discussions with residential associations have already begun.

The initiative is expected to reduce the role of middlemen, allowing farmers to receive better returns for their produce while consumers benefit from reliable and healthier food options. Experts believe the direct marketing model could significantly boost Telangana’s growing organic farming sector in the coming years.