STATE TO UP FOODGRAIN PRODUCTION

The state government has set a target of 1.37 crore tonnes for foodgrain production this year (2018-19). This is a significant increase of 47 lakh tonnes over last year.

Banking on the forecast of a normal monsoon and completion of Kaleshwaram and other projects this year, coupled with the Rythu Bandhu scheme and 24x7 free power supply to agriculture, the government is confident of bringing more area under cultivation and achieving record production. The government is devising an Agriculture Action Plan in consultation with agriculture and irrigation experts.

The state government has set a target of 1.37 crore tonnes for foodgrain production this year (2018-19) — an increase of 47 lakh tonnes over last year’s target.

The Agriculture Action Plan is likely to be unveiled this week.

Though the last year’s target was 90.88 lakh tonnes, only 85.45 lakh tonnes of foodgrains were produced. The target was missed due to lower production cause by deficit rainfall during kharif season last year.

Among all the foodgrains, paddy plays the major role with higher production in the state.

The agriculture department has put the estimated normal crop sown area for 2018-19 at 1.53 crore acres. Of this, the normally sown area in kharif has been pegged at 1.14 crore acres and rabi 38.75 lakh acres.

Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said, “Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project is expected to provide water to an additional five lakh acres by rabi this year. Another nine lakh acres will get irrigation facility with the completion of various pending projects. The crop sown area will increase by 14 lakh acres over last year, which will in turn result in higher foodgrain production."

The government has so far distributed `4,500 crore to 44.75 lakh farmers under the rythu bandhu scheme, which is expected to increase the crop sown area.