A 'retarded' agriculture cries for renaissance : YSR

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy today highlighted how a 'retarded' agricultural growth was thwarting the entire growth process of the state and made out a case for 'renaissance' of the sector based on higher productivity and larger infrastructure investments.

In an address at the National Development Council meeting, the CM said the economy of the state was a 'mixed' bag as the country approached the 11th plan and if the trend went uncorrected, it would undermine the planned economic growth and afflict social development.

Dr Reddy said the state was doing well in the field of infrastructure, IT sector and these gains need to be consolidated.

However there were areas of critical weaknesses bordering crisis in widespread agriculture sector.

He said the state's economy which was around six per cent in 80s had now touched 7.1 per cent a notch just below 7.2 for the country.

The state was now confidently targetting nine per cent growth in 2007-12.

Dr Reddy said agriculture will continue to be a central avenue during 11th plan and beyond and it would be a gigantic task to rejuvenate this most important sector. "All of us have to do it and succeed", he said. About the concept of agricultural insurance, he said the aim should be at insuring farmers' effort rather than insuring only bank loan. The insurance scheme with village as a unit for one dominant crop had been tried in five districts of A P.

On the irrigation and soil-water management, the CM said an ambitious plan was under implementation for creating 73 lakh acres of fresh ayacut and stabilising 22 lakh acres of fresh ayacut and 22 lakh acres by constructing 30 major and 18 medium projects. Of these eight were slated for completion during the 10th plan and work was on a 'fast track'.

He said an irrigation potential of 12 lakh acres had been created during the last three years and all projects were scheduled for completion in phased manner by 2012. Modernisation of Godavari and Krishna irrigation system along with drainage and construction of bunds along major rivers and canals was another initiative to provide major cushion against torrential rains ravaging crops, livestock, property and people.

In Infrastructure and IT, he said AP was doing well and the state had earned a reputation. The new ICT policy was intended to grow in a holistic manner in and around Hyderabad and tier II cities like Vishakhapatnam and Vijaywada. The state was likely to be in the second place after Karnataka by 2012 as IT and ITES sector boomed across the country.

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