*ప్రగతి భవన్ లో ఆదివారం వ్యవసాయ శాఖపై ముఖ్యమంత్రి కె.చంద్రశేఖర్ రావు సమీక్ష .

Regional Conferences of the Mandal level Farmer’s Coordination Committees will be organized on February 25 and 26. Chief Minister  K Chandrashekhar Rao has decided to this effect and announced about organization of conferences. He disclosed that in the proposed conferences, Coordination Committee members would be oriented towards the role that they have to play in creating awareness among the farmers in the State on the various actions, programmes, measures taken by the Government for the welfare of farmers and the farm sector. CM said the Regional Conferences would be held at the Agriculture University in Hyderabad on February 25 and at Ambedkar Stadium in Karimnagar on February 26. The CM has also instructed the officials concerned to prepare draft Budget proposals as the government is planning to introduce a separate Budget for the agriculture sector. He also said that financial assistance under the investment support scheme for agriculture would be given in two phases through Cheque. The CM said that there is proposal to supply rice-planting machines on subsidy to the farmers as part of the mechanization of the agriculture activity. The CM also announced that a state level Farmers’ Coordination Committee would be setup soon with representation from all the districts, Agriculture scientists, and specialists & experts in the field of agriculture.

The CM held a review meeting on Agriculture on Sunday at Pragati Bhavan. Finance Minister  Etela Rajender, Chief Advisor to Government Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary SK Joshi, MPs Gutha Sukhender Reddy,  Balka Suman, Mission Bhagiratha Vice Chairman Sri Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Government Whip Sri Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Corporation Chairmen  Gadari Bala Mallu,  Seri Subhash Reddy, MLC  Karne Prabhakar, Principal Secretaries to Govt  S Narsing Rao,  Ramakrishna Rao, Parthasarathy, Agriculture Commissioner  Jaganmohan Rao, Agriculture University Vice Chancellor  Praveen Rao, Economic Advisor  GR Reddy, CMO secretaries Ms Smita Sabharwal, Rajashekar Reddy, Bhoopal Reddy and others participated.

The CM said that for the February 25 Hyderabad Regional Conference to be held at the Agriculture University, Mandal Coordination Committee members from Jangaon, Medak, Sangareddy, Mahboobnagar, Wanaparthy, Nagar Kurnool, Jogulamba Gadwal, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Yadadri Bhongir, Vikarabad, Medchel, Rangareddy districts would be participate. For the February. 26 regional Conference to be held in Karimnagar, Mandal Coordination Committee members from Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Komaram Bhim Asifabad, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Pedapalli, Warangal urban, Warangal Rural, Jayashankar Bhoopalpally, Mahabubabad, Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Siddipet districts would be participate.

The conferences will be held from 10.30 AM to 5 PM in which there will be messages from the CM, Agriculture Minister and there will be a provision for a direct interaction with the CM. The CM said in the Conferences there will be an in-depth discussion on the role to be played by the Coordination Committee members in a host of programmes, schemes and measures taken up by the government for the welfare of farmers and development of agriculture sector. He said officials from the Agriculture, marketing and Horticulture departments would participate. The CM has instructed the agriculture department to make arrangements for the travel, food for the participating Coordination Committee members. Besides giving manuals on the role to played by Coordination Committee members for organising the farmers, formation of Farmers Daises and maintaining them, regular training for farmers, the crop input assistance scheme, ensuring Minimum Support Price for the produce, regulation to be followed while bring the produce to the markets, better agriculture practices, scientific farming method, setting up of food processing units, cold storages chain, Crop colonies, there shall be a comprehensive discussion on these issues to take places at the conferences.

The CM also announced shortly a 42-member State level Farmer Coordination Committee would be set up. Besides representation from the 30 rural districts, the proposed Committee will have agriculture officers, agriculture scientists, and specialists in the farm sector as members. He also asked the officials to suggest names of the persons who are working with commitment and dedication for the agriculture development in the state.

KCR said that the financial assistance given under the investment support scheme for agriculture would be given in the form of Cheque in two installments. He wanted Rs 4,000 assistance per acre for the crops for rainy season should be handed over from April 20 and the second installment of Rs 4000 per acre from November 18 for the summer crop. Funds for this scheme will be provided in the Budget, the CM said.