State Govt committed to welfare of farmers: CM

Hyderabad, Mar 2 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said that the State Government is committed to the welfare of the farmers.

Dr Reddy, while addressing the farmers and State Youth Congress Workers led by its President T J R Sudhkar Babu today, said that the waiving of Rs 60,000 crore loans of the farmers in the Union Budget was a revolutionary step to protect the interests of the farmers in the country.

He appreciated the efforts of the AICC President Sonia Gandhi for taking bold steps for the welfae of the farmers.

He said the Government had spent Rs 2,000 crore during 2007-08 for the National Rural Employment Guarentee Programme and was trying to spend Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore in the next year.

Due to the severe drought in 2002 the foodgrain produciton was only 106 lakh tonnes in the State as against 160 lakh tonnes produced in 2000. But the then TDP Government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu failed to improve the agricultural production and to look after the welfare of the farmers in the State, he claimed.

He said the MSP for paddy had been increased to Rs 190 during the last four years, as against Rs120 increased by the TDP during its nine year regime. They had also failed to waive off the agri loans, he added.

The Chief Minister ridiculed the statement of Mr Naidu that the Government had waived off the loans due to the pressure mounted by the TDP.

He said the Government was able to provide irrigated water to 14 lakh acres through various projects taken up under Jalayagnam.

The Government had also provided Rs 22,000 crore as loans to the farmers every year.

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