Pawar join PM on visit to Vidarbha for announcing farmers package

New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) After initial reluctance, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today announced to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his visit to the suicide-prone region of Vidarbha in Maharashtra on June 30 and July first to unveil a Central package for the rehabilitation of the debt-ridden farmers from 31 drought-prone districts in four states.

''I have been requested by the Prime Minister to join him to Vidarbha'', Mr Pawar told mediapersons while adding that he was not earlier inclined to go because of some compulsion of the coalition government.

As per the earlier programme, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who hails from the Vidarbha region, alone was to accompany the Prime Minister.

Though Mr Pawar declined to divulge the details of the package plan, sources said it could be to the tune of Rs 1,21,210 crore spread over five years.

He, however, said his ministry had already submitted the package plan two months earlier to the Finance Ministry and it was upto Mr P. Chidambaram to decide the ammount of the package ''which is yet to be finalised''.

The Minister also skirted the question whether the package included loan waiver or direct payment subsidy and other financial help to the farmers.

However, the package was aimed at financing those projects which supplement the income of the farmers and turn farming into a viable proposition.

The package, he said, would have thrust on four areas-- developing of the irrigation infrastructure, enhancing of agricultural credit on soft terms, funding for the quality seed projects and financing of the agricultural allied professions like dairying, poultry and piggery.

The Minister hinted that the package would be announced in Nagpur. It was prepared on the outcome of the meeting of Agriculture Ministers of four states- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala - in April this year.

And, of the identified 31 worse-hit districts, 16 are from Andhra Pradesh, six from Karnataka, six from Maharashtra and three from Kerala.

The package parameters were meant for the entire country and could be extended to other affected areas if needed, he added.

UNI JSS/ BKS KP1859