The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR calls for higher farm growth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 27, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR calls for higher farm growth

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JUNE 26. Outlining the State Government's priorities in his maiden interaction with the heads of district administration, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, told the Collectors today to ensure that the agricultural growth rate increased and the rural economy was put back on the rails.

Giving a background of the grim situation obtaining in the countryside, he said the top priority of his Government was putting the rural economy on the right track. During the last decade, the growth rate, which was around 4.2 per cent between 1980-91, had declined to two per cent. "Every effort should be made to enhance farm output," he said.

With small and marginal farmers accounting for 90 per cent of the total ryots, he said they were unable to withstand crop loss due to drought unlike industrialists who would go to a bank and get working capital. The Centre also paid special attention to the problems of farmers and announced a series of measures, including rescheduling of old loans and making available fresh ones. "We have to ensure that it is implemented expeditiously," he said.

It was decided to increase the credit flow by 25 to 30 per cent at the recently held State-level bankers' meet and an amount of Rs.1300 crores would be provided to agriculture and allied sectors, he said and urged the Collectors to pay special attention to the procurement and distribution of seeds.

Referring to the weatherman's prediction of getting rain after a week, the Chief Minister wanted Collectors to be ready with contingency plans for any kind of situation. "No one can be too sure of good rain. We should be ready for any situation," he said.

Touching upon farmers' suicide, he said that 3000 of 4000 farmers who ended their lives in the last four years were from the State. After his Government assumed office, 123 farmers had committed suicide but the Opposition Telugu Desam Party was saying that more than 500 had ended their lives. He told Collectors that there was no need to conceal or suppress anything and advised them to release details of suicides up to June-end to the media early next month. The economic conditions of farmers should be improved to put an end to the suicides, he said.

Referring to the six-month moratorium declared on debt owed to money lenders, he said: "We should not totally dry up the source" as the cooperative and banking sectors accounted for only 30 to 40 per cent of the credit. Apart from drought, one of the main reasons for the suicides was the sinking of additional borewells. He wanted Collectors to ensure strict implementation of the law which regulated the sinking of borewells.

The Government would also consider, if necessary, appointing an experts committee or a House committee to study the situation with regard to the suicides.

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