CM seeks partnership with ICRISAT

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 7. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, today invited the ICRISAT for a partnership with the A. P. Government in evolving a cost-effective agricultural technology for farmers that could serve as a model for the developing world. He was speaking at the annual day of the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), which has earlier provided assistance to AP in implementing watershed- based technologies for water harvesting and, more recently, provided groundnut seeds resistant to bud necrosis disease which ravaged Anantapur district.

Mr. Naidu also urged ICRISAT scientists to help the Government in preparing milestones for achievement in the field of agriculture drawing from its own experiences. He lauded the Institute for excellent implementation of rainwater harvesting practices which had rendered its 3,000-acre campus surplus in water in a semi- arid area.

Highlighting some of the key features of the State Government's proposed agricultural policy, he said a State Agricultural Promotion Council and district-level bodies would be created for coordinating and monitoring crop production, processing and marketing. A price stabilisation fund with a corpus of Rs. 100 crores would be set up to ensure a fair deal to the farmer and consumer.

One research station would be established in each district for integrated research on local crops, MoUs signed with seed companies and pesticide firms to make them more accountable, institutional credit made available to every farmer in the next five years and best farmers given prizes.

The Chief Minister commended the Kuppam model of modern agricultural practices for replication in Anantapur, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddi and Vizianagaram districts. He dwelt at length how farmers in Kuppam, using Israeli technology for dryland farms, had achieved incredible results. The Director- General of ICRISAT, Dr. William D. Dar, said the Institute was providing jobs to around 700 persons, including 196 regular work force and 300 to 450 temporary farm labour. Their salary and wages were at least 20 per cent higher than that of comparable jobs in the State Government or ICAR.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Next     : Court direction to IG on security to actor