Provide loans to tenant farmers

Amaravati: Suggesting officials to provide crop loans to the tenant farmers in the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that agriculture sector would survive through institutional loans only.

Naidu said that except East Godavari, tenant farmers in any other district in the State did not get proper loans from bankers, as targeted for the ongoing agriculture year.

The Chief Minister held a review meeting on Neeru Pragati at the Secretariat on Monday. Naidu said that with the active initiative taken by East Godavari District Collector, 100 per cent targeted tenant farmers availed crop loans. He directed Kurnool, Kadapa and Nellore district Collectors to ensure 100 per cent disbursements of loans to tenant farmers.

He said that despite shortage of rainfall during the last four years, AP agriculture sector has been showing good performance and there was consistence in growth in this sector. He pointed out that when the country’s average agriculture growth rate was 3 per cent, AP achieved 11 per cent growth rate, because of the innovative policies introduced and effectively implemented by the State government.

Naidu said that the overall development of the State would depend on the growth achieved in each sector. Every section or individual should ensure optimum productivity as it will facilitate the growth of economy, he said.

He said that present overall growth rate of 10.5 percent achieved by the State should be increased to more than 15 per cent. He asked the officials to prepare suitable plans and roadmap to achieve the target.

He stressed the need for digging farm ponds, removing silt in water tanks and effectively utilising MGNREGA funds and completing targeted works. He said that even though there was no sufficient rain, government has been able to maintain water levels in all tanks in Rayalaseema districts. He said that 12.5  tmcft of water was stored at Gandikota reservoir this year and asked officials to maintain 20 tmcft water next year.