AP expects bumper foodgrain production

Foodgrain production this season would be of the order of 11.93 mn tonnes as against a normal of 9.97 mn tonnes

Following widespread rains across the state and copious inflows into major reservoirs, bumper foodgrain production is expected during the current kharif season.

According to official estimates, foodgrain production this season would be of the order of  11.93 million tonnes (mt) as against a normal of 9.97 mt. Crops are expected to be sown in an area of 8.67 million hectares (ha) against the normal sown area of 8.11 million ha.

As the sowings picked up, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy held a review meeting on Wednesday and asked bankers to expedite issue of crop loans to farmers. So far, loans to the tune of Rs 13,951 crore have been disbursed as against the target of Rs 67,224 crore.

The chief minister, according to an official press release, wanted officials to prevail upon bankers to stipulate a one-year period to farmers for repayment of crop loans under 'Vaddi Leni Runalu' (loans without interest) scheme. This year, more than Rs 500 crore is expected to be paid under this scheme.

On the other hand, the state government has also planned to supply 4 million tonnes and 1.2 million quintals subsidised seed of various crops. It had so far supplied 1.13 million tonne fertilisers and 994,000 quintals of seed.