Admitting that farming profession was not a profitable one at present, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday stated that the government would make all out efforts to turn this around, and ensure that farmers would not be dejected after making their invaluable contributions to the field.
Kiran Reddy said that the state would seek whatever assistance was necessary from all quarters, including the central government to make this possible.
Addressing a seminar on 'Crisis in Agriculture — A search for Solutions' being organized under the aegis of International Centre for Gandhian Studies at Jubilee Hall in the city, the Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the farmers woes and called on all officials and Opposition party leaders to cooperate with the government by taking important decisions on uplifting the lives of farmers.
"Unlike other countries where the governments are giving incentives to the farmers who produce bumper harvest, the state government was not in a financially sound position to give such incentives to promote agriculture," he said.
Admitting that the farmers in the state suffered major damage due to cyclones and natural disasters, Kiran Reddy appealed to farmers not to lose hope and resort to committing suicides. He assured them that the government would extend all possible financial assistance.
The Chief Minister also sought suggestions from experts and scientists to find ways to solve the agricultural problems, and to make farming a profitable profession.
To reduce burden on distressed farmers, he said that the government had introduced 9-hour free power supply scheme to the benefit of farmers which cost the exchequer Rs. 5,000 crore per annum.
Kiran Reddy also said that the government would announce a special package for tobacco, cotton growers and weavers in the state, and added that the irrigation projects which were in various stages of construction would provide irrigation to thousands of acres in the state on completion.
The Chief Minister also appealed to both electronic and print media to cooperate with the government in helping it to solve the various issues concerning the farmers' issue. He asked the media to act in a responsible manner instead of carrying false reports on farmers' suicides.
Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani presided over the program. Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy was also present.