Chouhan Highlights Plans To Make 10 Crore Lakhpati Didis

Chouhan emphasized the need for ensuring an annual minimum income of ₹1 lakh for farmers and said he’s striving to increase the number irrigation practitioners from the present two lakh crore to three lakh crore.

The announcement came during the second day of the two-day national conference styled as Watershed Mahotsav in Vengalayapalem village of Guntur rural mandal on Tuesday. The minister lit the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the event.

Chouhan said he came in as a common man and farmer’s servant, considering service to farmers as a divine service.

He praised prime minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and as a powerful combination fostering development in Andhra Pradesh.
He promised initiatives similar to those implemented in Vengalayapalem’s pond in other states as well.

Reiterating the Centre’s target to make 10 crore Lakhpati Didis, Chouhan noted that the government was implementing several programmes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, under which every citizen would live in a proper house. He advised district collectors and legislators to ensure no one lived in huts.

Announcing crop diversification strategies, the minister said efforts were on to encourage farmers to grow three crops annually. He highlighted the AP government’s steps for small and marginal farmers. He promised support for producing and exporting alternative crops and pledged to support the region’s farmers.

Union minister of state for communications and rural development, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, said villages formed the foundation for the nation’s progress. Noting that 25 per cent of the nation’s rainwater depends on watersheds, he praised the PM’s initiatives for watershed development.

Chandrasekhar praised Chouhan for ensuring 40 per cent urea supply to Andhra Pradesh and addressing state issues effectively as Union agriculture minister. He noted that AP’s pending employment guarantee bills worth ₹180 crore were released recently by Chouhan.

The central minister highlighted initiatives to plant coconut trees as also increase fish and duck farming so as to improve people’s livelihoods. “There are over 20,000 villages with populations above 5,000, where water resource development is a priority, in order to promite health and prosperity.”

State minister and tourism minister Kandula Durgesh urged the people to conserve water. He praised the Prime Minister’s programmes and called for groundwater recharge, soil preservation, and efficient cultivation practices.