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Kalam launches agri mission in AP
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam has called for “Second Green Revolution” to boost food production in the country. He said the country is in need of as much as 340 million tonnes of food grains by 2020 in proportion to growing population.
Anantapur: Former President A P J Abdul Kalam has called for “Second Green Revolution” to boost food production in the country. He said the country is in need of as much as 340 million tonnes of food grains by 2020 in proportion to growing population.
He was addressing a meeting after inaugurating the Agriculture Mission set up by the Andhra Pradesh government at Garudapuram in Rayadurgam mandal in Anantapur district on Monday.
Kalam expressed anguish over the dwindling of farmland. The extent of farmland had declined by 70 million hectares to 100 million hectares, he pointed out. Though 62 per cent of the population was dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, the income being derived by them was mere 17 per cent.
He expressed grave concern over the neglect of the sector by the governments.
Drawing the attention of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was on the dais, the former President suggested that all the irrigation canals in Andhra Pradesh be linked to ensure water to the farmers throughout the year. The farmers had played major role in building the nation and its development and it should not be ignored, he urged the AP government.
The Agriculture Mission is intended to turn around the ailing agriculture in the State. “Our main goal is to make agriculture climate resilient, sustainable, productive and profitable. We aim to transform agriculture from a way of life into an enterprise by encouraging scientific farming through innovative thinking,” the Chief Minister said. It was a mission mode approach involving farmers to modernise the sector.
"Drought-proofing the state, farm mechanisation, water conservation and management, improved marketing, strengthening of research and extension activities will be our focus areas," Naidu said.
Naidu, during his address, showered boons on Anantapur district which, he said, stood by his Telugu Desam Party though thick and thin. He assured the people that his government would pay special attention to the district. He said the government would deliver on all its promises, notwithstanding hurdles in the way. A deficit budget to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore was staring in the face of the State, yet the promise to write off farm loans would be fulfilled, he said.
Despite the Union government and the RBI not cooperating in rescheduling of farm loans, the State government would deposit 20 per cent of total loan amount in the banks by October 22 to ensure that farmers secure fresh loans. He said the government would also write off DWCRA loans at the rate of Rs 1 lakh per each group to strengthen the self-help groups.
Earlier, Abdul Kalam visited the exhibitions organised by various departments.
