AP seeks Rs 7,000 cr Central aid for farm sector

Hyderabad, Oct 13: The Andhra Pradesh Government will seek Rs 7,000 crore additional Central assistance under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for agriculture and allied activities for the next five years.

The decision comes following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's offer of Rs 25,000 crore for the sector, during a review meeting in Hyderabad recently.

The decision was taken at a meeting Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had with Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and senior officials yesterday, an official release said.

Funds would be sought for horticulture, animal husbandry, sericulture, fisheries, marketing, sugarcane, special project on IT-based rural initiatives and setting up of universities.

UNI