Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister holds review meeting on horticulture

Hyderabad, Jun 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked Horticulture Minister Ramreddy Venkat Reddy and other officials to formulate an action plan as there is every scope of getting more funds from the Planning Commission in the ensuing five year plan.He held the review meeting on horticulture at the secretariat here yesterday, an official release said. Mr Reddy enquired about the progress achieved in the various schemes of the Horticulture department such as National Horticulture Mission, Rashtriya Krushi Vikas and Yojana and Oil Palm Development Scheme. He also reviewed the progress in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, oil palm under the Andhra Pradesh Micro Irrigation Project.Officials informed the Chief Minister that since 2003, the area under cultivation in Horticulture has increased by 22.73 per cent while the production has increased 72.25 per cent. The Annual plan for the year 2011-12 has been prepared with an amount of Rs 1234 crore.New initiatives launched by the department are semi permanent sprinkler system, cold storage rentals, good agriculture practices, assistance to borewells and diesel electric pumps for oil palm cultivation and urban horticulture.In this connection, the Chief Minister launched Horticulture Alert System, a Voice Message system to inform the farmers on horticulture schemes, weather and pesticide related matters.The Chief Minister asked the officials to take immediate steps to set up cold storage units in Rangareddy, Medak and Mahboobnagar districts which supply majority of vegetables and fruits to the twin cities. He also directed the finance department officials to clear the dues amounting to Rs 59 crore of the Micro Irrigation department for the year 2009-10 and ensure phase-wise clearance with regard to the dues pertaining to 2010-11.Mr Reddy recalled his letter to Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar wherein he has asked to provide funds for oil palm cultivation in the State in order to reduce the import of palm oil spending crore of rupees.Mr Reddy asked the officials to take steps in this regard. The Chief Minister has assured to look into the issue of stopping collection of VAT charges from oil palm farmers.
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Rain occurs in Telangana and Costal AP

Hyderabad, Jun 22 : Rain occurred at a few places over Telangana while isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh.bulletin from Meteorological Centre here today said weather has been dry over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Kaleswaram (Karimnagar dist), Kamareddy (Nizamabad dist) & Sompeta (Srikakulam dist) 4 each, Parkal (Warangal dist) 3, Asifabad (Adilabad dist) 2 and Adilabad, Bhadrachalam, Medak, Ramagundam, Chinnoor, Khanapur, Nirmal & Sirpur (all Adilabad dist), Mulugu (Warangal dist), Nizamsagar (Nizamabad dist) & Ramayampet (Medak dist) one each.Forecast and Farmers' weather bulletin valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was that light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar of Telangana. Isolated rain or thundershowers would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & in the remaining districts of Telangana and could occur over Rayalaseema. Outlook for subsequent two days was that there will be no large change.  Forecast for Hyderabad City and Neighbourhood valid until the morning of June 24, 2011 was sky condition would be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in some parts of city.The Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 36 & 23 degrees Celsius respectively, the bulletin said.
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Minister distributes Gas stoves to HIV patients

Kakinada, Jun 22 : The Minister for stamps and registrations Thota Narasimham today distributed gas stoves to 29 HIV patients families at a function held at Immanuel colony in Katravulapalli village near here under the auspices of St Paul Trust, a voluntary service organisation.He has complimented the Trust' Chairman Vijaya for extending the assistance in both cash and kind to the HIV infected and affected families for the past eleven years.also distributed rice to the HIV affected families on the occasion and assured to provide the basic infrastructure facilities and other amenities to the colony residents. Later he visited Kandregula village and distributed Rs 5,000 cash assistance to two fire accident victims families there.He has instructed the Tahasildar to sanction houses under Indiramma scheme to the fire accident victims. Earlier the Minister laid foundation stone for the Rs 55 lakh road works in Jaggampet that were damaged in the recent Jal cyclone.
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