Despite the disruptions created by the ongoing Telangana agitation and fear of negative growth in various sectors, Andhra Pradesh government is confident of achieving a growth rate of 10 per cent during the 12th plan period.
The Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who recently spoke at length at the National Development Council in New Delhi, said that the state would achieve the growth rate target.
The corresponding sectoral growth targets would be 6 per cent for agriculture, 10.5 per cent for industry and 11.5 per cent for services, Reddy said.
The new initiatives undertaken for the welfare of the farmers, women, students, SC, ST, backward and minority classes and poor in the state definitely made their lives brighter, he claimed.
The chief minister said that under the 'Jalayagnam' project, 86 major and medium irrigation projects, with a massive outlay of Rs 1,86,000 crore, have been undertaken in the state, including creation of new ayacut, stabilisation of existing ayacut, modernisation and flood control works in a comprehensive manner.
Reddy added that the state ranks the first in the country in terms of meat and egg production and that there is a target to grow at a rate of 9 per cent annually. He said that the accounts for 40 per cent of Indian fishery export and the sector contributes 2.58 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
He said that the minimum support price fixed for food grains should compulsorily take into account the scientifically calculated cost of cultivation and should be remunerative to farmers and added that is is specially relevant to Andhra Pradesh since the state substantially contributes to the national food requirement and food security.
He also explained new schemes like the Sree Nidhi Credit Cooperative-the women-owned, women-operated micro finance system, Skill Development Centres, Re 1-a-kg rice scheme covering 2.25 crore families for white-card holders, with an outlay of Rs 2,600 crores per annum, etc.
Reddy said, "In Andhra Pradesh, we have a paradoxical situation. While on the one hand, we have large tracts of unirrigated and cultivable land, on the other, about 2,000 TMC of flood water goes to the sea unutilised," every year.
"Therefore, in order to fully develop our irrigation potential and improve agricultural productivity, we have focused on 'Jalayagnam', the accelerated development of irrigation sources, since 2004," he said.
However, paucity of financial resources is the main constraint in the early execution of remaining Jalayagnam projects. Andhra Pradesh has invested Rs 53,000 crore on irrigation in the last 5 years.
"However, our efforts fall short of what is actually required. I am confident that the government of India will recognise and appreciate these efforts to stimulate growth in the agriculture sector and to bolster national food security," Reddy urged.
Andhra Pradesh also ranks first in micro irrigation and production of spices and fruits and third in the production of flowers. "We propose to provide micro irrigation systems to a further 10 lakh hectares under Andhra Pradesh Micro irrigation projects, benefiting 12.5 lakh farmers, Reddy said.
"The state is proudly the home of the Self Help Group (SHG) 'Indira Kranti Patham' movement in the country and pioneer in the implementation. Our success in organising the rural poor women into SHGs and promoting their financial inclusion by accessing bank credit for productive activities, has been a precursor to National Rural Livelihoood Mission.
The urban and the rural Indira Kranti Patham (IKP) groups the Chief Minister said will access Rs 10,000 crore of credit from the banks during 2011-12, which they will deploy for income generating activities and requested the government of India to promote the SHG-Bank linkage further, since it is the cheapest and most sustainable mode of financial inclusion.
He added that the government has launched Rajiv Education and employment mission, tasked with providing placement to 15 lakh youth by 2014 and of which at least 50 per cent shall be from women, SC, ST and backward classes.