Ankapur: Where Drought Cannot Wither a Model Village
Ankapur is a village in Armoor Mandal, Nizamabad district of the Indian state of Telangana. Recognised as a model village by the ICAR, ICRISAT and the International Rice Research Institute, this small, self-sufficient and agriculturally rich community has become a beacon for rural India. Almost every farmer here has adopted micro‑irrigation using drip systems, and the village is famously known as the “Seed Bowl of Telangana”.
Vital statistics
- Population: 5,689 (2011 Census)
- Households: 1,520
- Cultivable land: 2,000+ acres
- Tractors: 300
- Cars: 300+
- Bank branches: 3 commercial banks
- Seed processing units: 22
- White ration cards: Among the lowest in the district
Source: Village Development Committee, 2011 Census
Acute drought prevailing across the district appears to have little impact on Ankapur. While neighbouring villages report crop failure and migration of agricultural labour, Ankapur stands apart. The pipeline from the Gutpa lift scheme on the right bank of the Godavari takes care of drinking water needs. Moreover, farmers here have long understood the value of water: they raise only irrigated dry crops such as turmeric, jowar, maize, bajra and vegetables, using minimum water for maximum yield.
“Ankapur has a population of over 6,000 people. For several decades now we do not rear cattle more than the requirement. Consequently, our milch animal population is less,” explains Tota Gangaram, a former government employee and active member of the Village Development Committee. “Since we raise only irrigated dry crops, whatever fodder we get is enough for our animals.” There is absolutely no problem of migration of workers or sending cattle to slaughter houses – phenomena common during drought elsewhere.
Micro‑irrigation and farm ponds: a water revolution
Almost every farmer has taken to micro‑irrigation using drip systems, besides constructing huge concrete farm ponds to store water lifted through pumps. The same water is used to water crops and quench the thirst of cattle. The National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme has come as a boon, especially to small and marginal farmers who also go to work in the lean summer season. “Those who have water have raised turmeric crop in 40 per cent of their land and those who don’t have planted vegetables, but 80 per cent of the land remained fallow,” deplores K.K. Bajana, secretary of the local farmers’ association.
Four crops a year – the farming miracle
Farmers in Ankapur village reap four crops in a year, which generally takes their counterparts by surprise. Unity in the farming community and commitment to work are instrumental in aiding this success. The village, situated 20 km from the district headquarters on the Nizamabad‑Armoor road, boasts three commercial bank branches, 300 tractors and an equal number of cars. It also has the credit of being a village sans huts at all – driving through the main road, one almost feels entering a big town.
Farmers here are famous for adopting modern farming methods in commercial crops like turmeric, maize and vegetables on a large scale, as opposed to traditional paddy – in a district known as the rice bowl of Telangana. They never look to governments for succour, even in the worst of scenarios. More than 75 per cent of farmers who took crop and other agriculture loans have already repaid the banks without seeking a waiver.
Global recognition and the NRI connect
The village has earned recognition from national and international agricultural research bodies such as the ICAR, ICRISAT and the International Rice Research Institute. This is probably the only village in Telangana that has a separate web portal created by its NRIs. “We have over 500 educated youth either working or pursuing higher studies in the USA, the UK, the UAE and other countries. The village has sound financial strength with the money sent by them, besides agricultural income,” says Challa Ananta Reddy, chairman of the Village Development Committee.
Women work hard here, and even though no household owns more than 10 acres of land, they produce a maximum output. During one bumper harvest, farmers purchased so many new cars with the remuneration from crops. There are 22 seed processing units in the village. The red jowar seed developed here is exported to northern India. Seed companies like Pioneer, Pro‑Agro, Ganga Kaveri, Kaveri, Tulasi and Nuziveedu have processing units in the village, mitigating unemployment to a large extent.
A village without a single hut
It is no exaggeration that the village has no thatched houses and huts. Inhabited by 5,689 people (as per 2011 Census), with 1,520 households and over 2,000 acres of cultivable land, Ankapur could be one of the few villages with an exceptionally low number of white ration cards, according to Village Revenue Officer Mohan. The Village Development Committee (VDC) plays a pivotal role for the discipline and development of the village, says M.C. Ganga Reddy, president of the Rythu Sangham.
The Hindu: Seed bowl of Telangana sitting pretty
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