The Hindu Business Line : PM to hold meet on farm plan

Hyderabad, July 30 The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, will hold a high-level meeting with the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the Agriculture Minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, and top officials to discuss the growth plan for agriculture and agri-allied sectors in the 11th Plan.

The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, will also take part in the three-hour meeting that is aimed at eliciting the State’s view on the issue.

The Prime Minister’s visit followed a decision to visit six States (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Bihar), to review agricultural progress and discuss measures to increase productivity.

Official sources said the Prime Minister would also discuss issues such as food security and the Central’s assistance package of Rs 25,000 crore to provide succor to the ailing farming sector.

“The State Government has prepared a presentation comprising its views on increasing growth rate in the farm sector to four per cent from the present two per cent,” the sources said.

“We feel that a mammoth programme is needed to scale-up mechanisation to reduce yield gaps (what actually is being produced and what can be achieved),” they said.

In the afternoon, the meeting would focus on investments and infrastructure.

The Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy is expected to raise the contentious issue of gas pricing, involving the Reliance Industries and state demands with the Prime Minister.

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