Minister refutes TDP president's charge on agri production

Hydeabad, Jan 9 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy today denied Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu's charge that agriculture production had not increased during the last four years.

Talking to newspersons after releasing a diary containing information on Agriculture useful for farmers, he said the agriculture production in the state had increased to 162 lakh tonnes in 2006-07 from 107 lakh tonnes during the TDP regime in 2002-03.

The production was 127 lakh tonnes in 2003-04, 134 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 and 170 lakh tonnes in 2005-06.

He said during kharif season in 2007-08, the production was 106 lakh tonnes and another 80 lakh tonnes was expected in the Rabi season.

The Centre and the State Government had spent Rs 4,230 crore on agriculture in 2003, he said adding the government had given Rs 190 extra for paddy, which was highest in recent years to help farmers.

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