Andhra CM asks officials to create awareness about Bt cotton seed

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday reviewed the input supply arrangements for the kharif season and the drive to enrol all children into schools in this academic year starting June 13 at a video conference with district collectors.

Reddy advised the officials to create awareness among farmers about Bt cotton seed varieties as their preference for just one or two varieties was causing problems.

According to him, about 5.4 million packets of seed, nearly 60 per cent of the total requirement of 9.1 million packets, have already been dispatched to the districts.

He told the official to ensure timely credit to the farmers, including licensed cultivators. The state has set a target of 12.2 million tonnes for foodgrain production in the ensuing kharif season.

 

The chief minister also asked the collectors to ensure 100 per cent enrolment of children and eliminate dropouts completely as the state aimed to achieve 100 per cent literacy among school age children by 2011.

Among the new initiatives, the government is introducing English as a subject from class 1 from the current academic year.