A special initiative to enhance the income of Scheduled Caste (SC) farmers through oilseed
cultivation was launched at Rythu Vedika, Ranjole village, Zaheerabad mandal, Telangana state,
titled “Empowerment of Scheduled Caste Farmers through Oilseed Production and Value
Addition” was organized by ICAR–Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad
under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) under the leadership of Dr R. K. Mathur, Director,
ICAR-IIOR. As part of this initiative, on 6th November 2025, seeds of Safflower cultivar (ISF764) were distributed to Safflower growers belonging to SC community of Ranjole village to
promote sustainable oilseed cultivation, coordinated by Dr Suresh Madugula, Nodal Officer,
SCSP. The event aimed to motivate SC farmers to diversify their cropping patterns and explore
value addition opportunities in oilseeds. The programme received active participation from
farmers belonging to neighboring villages, who interacted actively to gain practical insights into
improved oilseeds cultivation techniques in general and Safflower in particular. Farmers expressed
their gratitude for the timely support provided under the SCSP initiative, acknowledging that the
distribution of quality seeds and technical guidance would significantly contribute to increasing
their income and ensuring long-term sustainability in oilseed farming.
https://icar-iior.org.in/sites/default/files/2025-12/scsp-activities.pdf
