The Hindu Business Line : AP launches Agriculture Technology Mission

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, offering fruits to a bull at a function in Hyderabad on Sunday while launching the Agriculture Technology Mission. — Mohammed Yousuf

Hyderabad , Jan.15

TO bring in a holistic technology and research-driven approach to farm sector development and ensure that the State transitions into Haritandrapradesh (green Andhra Pradesh), the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, today launched the Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Technology Mission.

Speaking after the launch of the mission, Dr Reddy said the mission seeks to improve the overall agriculture productivity and living standards of the farm community leveraging technology extensively.

The mission seeks to identify potential yield gaps in various crops and bridge them through precision farming techniques, improve water use efficiency, sustain dryland agriculture through crop diversification, encourage contract farming with appropriate legal framework, strengthen agro processing and bring in value addition to farm sector produce through market linkage.

While providing credit and insurance linkages, the effort would be to strengthen agricultural research and focus on location specific approach, and re-orient agricultural extension system with focus on empowerment of farmers and convergence of on farm enterprises like diary, poultry, sheep rearing, horticulture and bring in sustainable growth.

Mr D.A.Somayajulu, Advisor to Government on Economic Affairs and Policy Implementation, has been appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Agriculture Technology Mission (ATM).

The creation of technology mission is aimed at addressing issues concerning the farm sector in the State, on which about 62.3 per cent of the total workforce in the State is dependent upon. Recognising the importance of intervention to go beyond the traditional approach, the mission seeks to help the farm sector in their efforts to both enhance productivity as also brace up to competition.

The National Commission of farmers had suggested a programme for `Agricultural Renewal' that can be the starting point of the Second Green Revolution. The State mission fits directly into the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's call to usher in a second green revolution.

While the ATM will formulate both long term and short-term plans and strategies for all the agriculture and allied sectors, it will not duplicate the executive work of the existing departments. The ATM is yet another election promise that Dr Reddy has fulfilled.

The Chief Minister handed over awards to 41 farmers for their achievements.