Date:03/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070351512100.htm

Back AP to spend Rs 744 cr on horticulture

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, July 2 The Horticulture Department of Andhra Pradesh Government has announced an action plan for 2008-09 with an outlay of Rs 744.44 crore.

This plan includes a spend of Rs 231.70 crore under the State Horticulture Mission, which envisaged development of nurseries in the public and private sectors and increase of productivity in various crops.

Releasing the action plan here on Tuesday, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, said the State has cleared a proposal to set up an irradiation centre near the new international airport at Shamshabad.

The APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) would take up the project in association with AP Agros. Some countries, including the U S, insisted that fruits such as mangoes should under go irradiation treatment in order to allow them into their countries.

The action plan for 2008-09 targeted to cover 1.50 lakh hectares of area under the AP Micro Irrigation Project. “We have allocated Rs 366 crore for this purpose,” the minister added.

It was also planned to provide hybrid vegetable seeds with a subsidy of 50 per cent, covering 50,000 hectares.