Drop in rice production in A.P. forecast

By R. J. Rajendra Prasad

HYDERABAD, MARCH 29. A decrease is forecast in rice production in Andhra Pradesh for this year, from 118.78 lakh tonnes last year to 101.45 lakh tonnes due to failure of the South West monsoon, resulting in a deceleration of the growth rate of the State economy.

Total foodgrain production this year is expected to be about 128.10 lakh tonnes, as against the bumper crop of 149.1 lakh tonnes last year.

The annual survey of the economy says that there was a cumulative deficit of 127 tmcft of water in respect of Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs because of the failure of monsoon. About 600 mandals out of the 1,100 in the State have been declared drought-affected.

An extent of 80.16 lakh hectares is normally covered under kharif in the State, but this year only 74.71 lakh hectares is covered. There is decrease in area and in yield in respect of rainfed crops such as groundnut, maize, cotton, castor, sunflower while about three lakh hectares under tanks and wells, usually planted under paddy has been left fallow. Currently, tobacco farmers are in distress, demanding that there be a crop holiday because of the accumulation of one year's production with the ryots.

The 39 State Public Sector Undertakings have put up a dismal performance again, with their cumulative loss till March, 1998 touching Rs. 12,904 crores. The 10 big loss-making units include the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board, Singareni Collieries, the AP State Road Transport Corporation, Civil Supplies Corporation, Nizam Sugar Factory, State Trading Corporation, State Finance Corporation, Industries Development Corporation etc.

According to a Modified Expert group's recommendations, the percentage of people below poverty line in the State is 22.19, compared to the all India level of 35.97 per cent. The estimate is based on a suggestion of Lakdawala Committee that a State specific poverty line be estimated based on a standard commodity basket, corresponding to the poverty line at the national level.

The State Government protested this method. After going through the State Government's point, the Planning Commission increased the per centage of the families below poverty line to 25.68. The State Government says that because of this method of determining poverty ratio, the total grants from the Centre declined from an anticipated figure of Rs 2,741 crores to Rs 2,570 crores this year.

The State Government gave the ``white cards'' to 113.05 lakh families, having an annual income of less than Rs 11,000. The Centre gives 10 kg rice per month at Rs 4 per kg to those below poverty line in AP, while the State Government gives 20 kg rice at Rs 3.50 a kg to all white card holders, at a cost of Rs 1,000 crores. The recent hike in the price of the LPG cylinder however has no impact on the ``Deepam'' scheme, under which the State Government plans to distribute 10 lakh LPG connections to women members of the DWCRA (Development of Women and Child in Rural Areas) scheme.

This is because the State Government pays only the refundable security deposit of Rs 1,000 per gas connection towards cylinder and regulator. The beneficiary will have to pay the cost of gas stove, tube, identification book and administrative charges. At present, only 280 LPG dealers are available in the State and since their area of operation is confined to only 15 km radius from the periphery of a Municipality, there is no total coverage of beneficiaries. The Civil Supplies Corporation and Girijan Development Corporation have been asked to take up the task of distributing LPG cylinders to women beneficiaries in inaccessible areas.

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Section  : Regional
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