YSR to seek more aid for agri sector

To pitch for the demand at the Congress CMs' meet

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would press for more central support for irrigation and agricultural sectors besides asking for a pesticide control regime similar to the drug control Act and extension of subsidies for micro nutrients for achieving the national goal of 4 per cent growth in the agricultural sector at the forthcoming meeting of chief ministers from Congress-ruled states.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, state agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy said the chief minister would be giving a presentation on agricultural and allied sectors at the meet being held at Nainital on September 23-24.

Besides explaining the issues and problems with regard to agricultural and allied sectors, the chief minister will also give a representation on the additional measures required to achieve the growth targets apart from alleviating problems of the farming community, the minister said.

According to the agriculture minister, Rajasekhara Reddy is planning to press for increasing the allocations under the Centre's accelerated irrigation benefit programme (AIBP) by ten-fold from the existing Rs 2,500 crore of which Andhra Pradesh is a major beneficiary.

The chief minister would also urge the Centre to bring in a pesticide control Act to regulate the prices of pesticides, the minister said.

The move is required as pesticides are significantly affecting the cost of cultivation, up to 50 per cent in the case of crops such as cotton.

The state government would also ask for extension of subsidy to micro nutrients such as zinc sulphate and boron, which are crucial to the increase of overall yield levels and also help reduce the usage of urea, according to the minister.

Further reduction in interest rate on farm loans, increase of minimum support price (MSP) for pulses and other rainfed crops are among the other suggestions the chief minister is expected to make at the meeting.