WAF chief's pat for YSR

Hyderabad, May 24 (UNI) World Agricultural Forum (WAF) President James B Bolger, appreciating Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's 'padayatra' to the villages, covering over 1,000 miles, said it had inspired many participants of the recent 'World Agricultural Congress 2007' at St Louis in the USA, which he addressed recently.

In the letter, a copy of which was released here, Mr Bolger said the issues raised by Dr Reddy had immense impact on the debates. He felt the Chief Minister was right in saying agricultural productivity should be increased as land available for cultivation was dwindling.

Mr Bolger also appreciated Dr Reddy's suggestions about the need for encouragement of biofuels and increase in the public investment for development of villages. His suggestions became the main subjects for discussions.

He also thanked Dr Reddy for coming forward to host the Asian Regional Conference of the World Agricultural Forum at Hyderabad.

He hoped Dr Reddy's efforts to develop agriculture in Andhra Pradesh would be successful.

In his response, Dr Reddy said India which was once known for starvation deaths was now second in the world in the production of food grains and wheat.

Despite the increase in population, the country was able to produce surplus food. He said with the same spirit his government wanted to turn Andhra Pradesh into a rice bowl.

UNI