National Food Security Mission launched in AP

Hyderabad, July 31 (UNI) Coinciding with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Andhra Pradesh, the National Food Security Mission was formally launched in the state today, reaffirming commitment to achieve four per cent growth in agriculture in the XIth Plan period.

A resolution, adopted at a joint review meeting by Dr Singh along with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, aimed to achieve additional production of 30 lakh tonne of rice, 3.5 lakh tonne of pulses and five lakh tonne of oil seeds, besides ''substantial'' improvement in oilpalm production.

Briefing newsmen, Mr Pawar said the state government would formulate an operational work plan to implement the mission. The Centre also noted the state's concerns regarding the need for enhanced allocation to the state under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme.

The resolution endeavoured to achieve additional milk production of 32 lakh tonne, meat production of three lakh tonne, production of 500 crore eggs and 16 lakh tonne of inland fisheries during the XI Plan period.

It also sought expeditous implementation of the Vaidyanathan Committee Report to provide credit to additional 18 lakh farmers.

The resolution entrusted the state with preparation of district agriculture plans and aggregate them into state agriculture plan within the next three months, formulate detailed project reports for agriculture and allied sectors to avail additional Central assistance.

It asked the state to make further efforts to establish post-harvest management infrastructure and marketing facilities for horticulture produce, achieve financial closure on public-private partnership initiatives for terminal marketing complexes in Hyderabad, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam by coming March.

It wanted the state to prepare project proposals of about Rs 400 crore by September for appraisal by the World Bank under the Multi-State Agricultural Competitiveness Project (MACP).

The resolution called for according highest priority for seed production by encouraging private sector seed companies to avail assistance from the National Seeds Corporation.

It wanted the state to bring ten lakh hectare under organic farming in 5000 villages in rain-fed areas covering ten lakh farm families involving self-help groups, farmers and non-governmental organisations.

UNI