The Hindu Business Line : AP committed to completing irrigation projects, says CM

THE irrigation sector holds the key for overall development of agriculture and the State Government would do everything possible to invest Rs 46,000 crore in the sector and complete various new and pending irrigation projects in the State and bring large tracts under cultivation.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, said that the present Government has reworked its strategy and given a totally different approach to developing the agriculture sector. The focus has shifted significantly to the agriculture sector and this would mean creation of additional acreage by investing in completion of various irrigation projects across the State.

Admitting that there are quite a few teething problems for the State Government in terms of completion of the ongoing and pending irrigation projects, "we will ensure that all these irrigation projects are completed ahead of schedule," Dr Reddy said addressing the oilseeds industry and trade experts today.

"We have embarked on an ambitious project that would focus on micro irrigation across the State. Investing about Rs 1,200 crore, this micro irrigation project will ensure superior forms of cultivation while optimising water use through drip irrigation methods. To compliment this initiative, the Government has also increased farm credit by about 35 to 40 per cent this year," he said.

The State Government has initiated moves to ensure that there is shift in the overall strategy in terms of agriculture sector that seeks to bring in alternative crops away from rice.

While the farmers are fully dependent on monsoons for the sector growth, last four years have not been good for the kharif crops. This has resulted in lower productivity and this is one of the reasons for farmers' suicides.

Therefore, the special thrust on the irrigation sector would ensure that they reap good crop yields, he said.

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AP committed to completing irrigation projects, says CM