Despite slowdown in agriculture, economy of Andhra Pradesh expanded at 8.33 per cent on average during the 11th Five Year Plan period, surpassing the country's GDP growth rate of 7.94 per cent.

Despite deficit rainfall and unfavourable seasonal conditions in the state, resulting in slowdown in the economy, especially in the agriculture sector, the state is projected to register 6.81 per cent growth this fiscal.

The country's corresponding growth rate is estimated to be 6.88 per cent, official sources said on Friday.

The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at current prices as per Advance Estimates for 2011-12 is Rs6.76 lakh crore, as against Rs5.89 lakh crore during 2010-11, which is an increase of 14.82 per cent.

The Per Capita Income of AP at current prices is estimated at Rs71,540 for 2011-12 (advance estimates) registering a growth of 13.71 per cent over the previous year, while it is Rs60,972 for All India with 14.3 per cent growth.

In view of the decent overall growth performance during the 11th Plan (2007-12) period, the state government is targeting a growth rate of 10 per cent in the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17), with respective sectoral targets as six per cent for agriculture, 10.5 per cent for industry and 11.5 per cent for services sector.

The overall strategy would be to look beyond growth and focus on employment generation to the millions of youth in the state, the sources said.

With an eye on the ambitious growth targets for the 12th Plan, the state government has identified nine departments – agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, industries, IT and communications, tourism, minority welfare and youth welfare -- that would propel growth.