Date:06/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050608300300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Seed groundnut supply from May 15: Minister

Staff Reporter

Opens rythu sadassu; says agriculture should be recognised as an industry

ANANTAPUR: Supply of seed groundnut on subsidy will be launched in the district on May 15, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Endowments J.C. Diwakar Reddy said at Penukonda on Friday.

Speaking after inaugurating a rythu sadassu there, he said it was time the farmers recognised agriculture as an industry and take it up as per the market demands.

He alleged that the previous TDP Government had neglected agriculture sector by concentrating only on information technology and industrial sectors.

As a result, the rural economy was destroyed and the farmers were forced to end lives. Most of them had even migrated for a livelihood.

But, the Congress Government was giving utmost importance to farmers and farming sector.

Free power for ryots

Giving free power supply to agriculture, writing of farm power bill dues, taking up pending irrigation projects as Jala Yagnam and conduct of rythu chaitanya yatras and rythu sadassus were an indication to it.

Rythu sadassus were being conducted to take the development in agriculture and allied sectors to farmers and making them available at affordable cost, the Minister explained.

Incharge Collector Shashibhushan Kumar, D. Nizamuddin and A. Venkatarami Reddy, MPs, ZP Chairperson G. Thippeswamy, Penukonda RDO S.V. Nageswara Rao and officials of agriculture, animal husbandry, sericulture and other departments were also present.