By IANS,
Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh has targeted a 12 percent growth in agriculture and production of 20 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2008-09.
The targets were outlined in the agriculture action plan for the new crop season, released Wednesday by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
The state recorded an eight percent growth in agriculture last year, compared to the national rate of 4.5 percent.
The state’s foodgrain production was 19.1 million tonnes, while national production during 2007-08 is believed to have crossed 227 million tonnes.
The government has allocated Rs.321 billion in the state budget for 2008-09 to boost agriculture growth.
Reddy, who completed four years in office last month, said his government had made agriculture a profitable venture. The previous Telugu Desam Party regime had neglected it, he alleged.
“The previous government had even branded agriculture as sheer waste,” YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known, said.
He said allocation to agriculture and allied sectors had risen from Rs.43 billion in 2003-04 to Rs.321 billion. Agricultural credit, which was Rs.90 billion, now stands at Rs.262 billion.
Similarly, food production has gone up from Rs.13.6 million tonnes in 2003-04 to Rs.19.1 million tonnes.
Reddy said agriculture sector grew on account of the Rs.9.25 billion Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, the Rs.770 million national food security mission, the Rs.96.5 billion Prime Minister’s package during the last three years, and the Rs.720 billion loan waiver scheme.