Steps taken to increase agricultural production

Hyderabad, Apr 29 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said the state government has taken several steps to increase the agricultural production and also for the welfare of the farmers in the state.

Participating in the Praja Patham programme in West Godavari district, Dr Reddy discussed with the officials on the ensuing World Agricultural Conference to be held in America on May 7, for which he would attend from India.

In a message to the farmers in the state, the Chief Minister said the government had procured 63 lakh tonnes of paddy during khariff season and would spend Rs 1,000 crore for the welfare of the farmers.

He said the government had prepared a perspective plan for the benefit of the farmers' families on a long term basis and to increase the economic conditions of the farmers.

He said the government had taken up irrigation projects in the state to provide sufficient water to the agricultural lands and thereby increase production.

The government had taken steps for the development of dairy and poultry farms, animal husbandry department and had decided to spend Rs 1,000 crore for this purpose.

The government provided loans through the banks to the farmers, avoiding middlemen, and had urged the banks to increase the loan amount to farmers.

The government had decided to develop the villages which was the backbone for the country's development.

UNI