Guntur: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Union government to accord central university status to Acharya NG Ranga AP Agriculture University (ANGRAPAU) and also help promote commercial and horticulture crops in AP.
“The Telugu Desam government is giving top priority to agriculture,” he said and suggested that farmers increasingly turn to horticulture and commercial crops to make good money.
The Chief Minister said the state government was earning good income through agriculture and allied sectors. The TD government was striving to bring more projects and institutions to AP though the good understanding it has with the Narendra Modi-led Union government. The state was seeking '1,505 crore for the ANGRAPAU for it to develop as a world-class agriculture university.
He urged Union agriculture minister Radhamo-han Singh to increase the minimum support price for various agriculture produces to help farmers facing difficulties due to low prices.
Mr Naidu said that under the AP Reorganisation Act, the state government has the right to use Hyderabad as capital and retain its right over universities and institutions there, but “we are committed to developing AP, and hence starting prestigious institutions and universities in the state with the cooperation of the Union government.”
The Chief Minister said it was important that the state maintained good relations with the Centre. This was a must for AP to get more central projects, schemes and institutions. “We cannot be enemies,” he stressed.
Mr Naidu said he was keen on getting an AIIMS unit for AP, and the foundation stone for this would be set in December at Mangalagiri. The state government earned a Rs 2 lakh crore income from agriculture and allied sectors, he said, and added that the state government offered soil tests to 4 lakh farmers for development of agriculture/horticulture/commercial crops. There was no use having conventional crops, he said, and asked farmers to go for commercial and horticulture crops for good income.
The CM said the Neeru-Chettu scheme was started to improve water availability in Rayalaseema areas. The river-linking project Pattiseema was aimed at providing water for irrigation purposes. Rain guns were introduced to save the crops. He sought the help of the Centre for the rain gun programme’s success by allotting sufficient funds.
“Funds for Amaravati is the need of the hour,” he said and added that it would take 10 years to establish the new capital. Due to the poor financial conditions of the state government, it has sought the cooperation of the public, he added.
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