Date:27/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/27/stories/2005052702041700.htm

Back AP CM moots chilli board

Our Bureau

Guntur , May 26

THERE is a need for setting up a separate board for chilli here, on the lines of the Tobacco Board, as the State is the largest producer of the crop in the country, according to the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Currently, chilli crop is under the Spices Board which has a regional office here. He was speaking at a convention of farmers in the Lam regional research centre here on Thursday. He said his Government would take up the issue.

He advised farmers growing commercial crops in the Guntur and Prakasam districts to adopt a multi-cropping pattern and go in for crop diversification. "It is not advisable to depend on a single crop and even in a small holding different crops should be grown. It will increase the resilience of the farmers in case of price fluctuations," he said.