A P seeks cental help for setting cold storage for tomatoes

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh today sought a special central assistance for setting up cold storages for tomato growers and also a special package for preventing suicides.

Talking to newspersons state Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy after calling on the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said he had requested the Centre to procure suitable technology for storing perishable commodities to save farmers from resorting to distress selling.

The Centre should help set up exclusive cold storage facilities for vegetables and fruits, in Andhra Pradesh. ''The government has promised us to scout for technology both in India and abroad and extend all possible help,'' he said.

He said he had requested Mr Pawar for expedite special package agreed at the recent meeting of Chief Ministers of three soutehrn states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala besides Maharashtra at Hyderabad. The package is in the final stages of finalisation and Prime Minister will soon call a meeting of Chief Ministers of AP, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra besides Union Finance Minister.

An official release said that the Ministry of Rural Development had released Rs 200 crore to Andhra Pradesh as Ist installment for implementing National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme during 2006-07. The programmes covers the districts of Adilabad (Rs 12.62 crore), Mahbubnagar (Rs 9.66 crore), Rangareddy (Rs 6.20), Khammam (Rs 22.61), Warangal (Rs 17.53), Nalgonda (Rs 25.33), Anantapur (Rs 23.46), Cuddapah (Rs 13.07), Chittoor (Rs 24.87), Vizianagaram (Rs 18.45), Karimnagar (Rs 8.82), Medak (Rs 10.82), Nizamabad (Rs 6.56). UNI MCN PA VP1950