AP to diversify crop to boost agri output

Paddy118.56 Maize33.34 Jowar8.05 Bajra1.09 Ragi 0.99 Wheat0.11 Bengal gram8.09 Black gram3.48 Red gram 3.20 Green gram2.41 Horse gram0.34 Cow gram0.02 Other Pulses0.09 Groundnut16.18 Sunflower3.96 Soybean1.82 Castor1.34 Sesamum0.47 Safflower0.09 Niger seed0.01 Cotton24.48 Mesta6.42 Chillies7.89 Sugarcane211.92 Tobacco2.14 Onion4.14  The government will incur an expenditure of Rs 470.18 crore on the seeds. It also plans to spend Rs 20.68 crore and Rs 80.62 crore for cotton and maize cultivation respectively.  The state has set a foodgrain output target of 162.34 lakh tonnes for the current financial year, with 256.99 lakh tonnes for commercial crops (227.10 lakh tonnes in 2006-07).  The government has instructed agriculture officials to help farmers produce 17.63 lakh tonnes of pulses and 23.88 lakh tonnes of oilseeds.  The state has also recommended to the Central government for a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 725 a quintal for fine paddy and Rs 660 for common paddy, Rs 758 for jowar, Rs 617 for maize, Rs 786 for bajra, Rs 726 for ragi, Rs 2,034 for red gram, Rs 2,032 for green gram, Rs 2,019 for black gram, Rs 1,813 for groundnut, Rs 1,817 for sunflower, Rs 1,838 for sesamum, Rs 1,105 for soyabean, Rs 2,054 for rapeseed and mustard, Rs 2,339 for cotton H-77 and Rs 1,990 for H-4.  Of the total targeted crop hectarage for 2007-08 at 118 lakh hectares, paddy makes up 36.11 lakh hectares and other coarse grains account for 15.38 lakh hectares.