The Hindu Business Line : AP aiming at 30% increase in rice output

Hyderabad, May 25 The Government of Andhra Pradesh is targeting to increase rice production under National Food Security Mission in the State by about 30 per cent by 2011-12.

About one lakh tonnes of rice are being produced under National Food Security Mission in 11 districts in the State. “This will be going up to over 1.3 lakh tonnes by 2011-12 besides encouragement for production of pulses in 14 other districts,” Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, told newspersons here on Sunday.

Referring to the food security in the State, the Minister said the situation was “highly satisfactory” and there was no need for any worry.

“The efforts of State Government in promoting agriculture and interest of the farmers with full support from the Centre from 1999 general elections in the State have borne fruits with all round development,” he claimed.

The cultivation of food crops had increased from 68 lakh hectares in 2003-04 to 73.5 lakh hectares in 2007-08. The food crops production and productivity had improved from 137.28 lakh tonnes to 198.72 lakh tonnes and 3,011 kg/hectare to 3,323 kg/hectare respectively between 2003-04 and 2007-08, Mr Reddy said.

The rice cultivation alone had up from 29.75 lakh hectare in 2003-04 to 39.35 lakh hectare in 2007-08.

The initiatives of the Government such as ‘Jalayagnam’ had resulted in irrigation facilities to 15 lakh hectares of farm land, he said.

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