Ensure all possible help to farmers: CM to officers

Hyderabad, May 29 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed the district collectors to provide seeds, fertilizers and bank credit to the farmers during the Khariff season.

Presiding over a video conference with the collectors from the state Secretariat here, Dr Reddy said the government would bring 7.5 lakh acres of land under irriagation from the newly constructed projects in backward Telangana, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions.

Stating that the government was taking steps to educate the farmers on the importance of crop diversification, he said 88 lakh hectares of land would come under irrigation in this Khariff.

Monsanto BT cotton seeds would be available at Rs 650, he said.

Directing the officials to distribute house pattas to beneficiaries of the INDIRAMMA scheme, Dr Reddy said the government would reward the people who inform of irregularities in the scheme.

The ration cards would be distributed to all eligible by the end of June and the supply of ration from July, he promised.

Observing that the bank credit to the Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been successful during 2005, Dr Reddy said the district authorities should take steps to form new SHGs of the SC, ST and BC.

UNI AP JJ 1943