Date:15/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061502922100.htm

Back AP crop cover scheme to be expanded

Our Bureau

Hyderabad June 14 The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to expand the crop insurance scheme with village as a unit in five more districts beginning this kharif season.

The scheme would now cover the districts (with the crops covered in brackets) Vizianagaram, East Godavari, West Godavari (paddy), Kurnool (groundnut) and Medak (maize), according to Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, Minister for Agriculture.

Currently, the scheme is implemented in Karimnagar (maize), Mahboobnagar (maize), Anantapur, Kadapa (groundnut) and Prakasam (red gram).

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said the State had pegged crop loans at Rs 17,300 crore and term loans at Rs 5,350 crore this year.

Over five lakh farmers, who were not covered under any loan scheme earlier, would receive loans this year.

Denying criticism that there was severe shortage of seeds, he said the State had tied up with private and government agencies to supply the required seed.