Agri sector flourished under Jagan’s rule: Nagi Reddy

PNS|Vijayawada

AP State Agriculture Mission Vice-President MVS Nagi Reddy has said that the production of food grains and fruits increased massively during Jagan’s rule and groundwater has also improved. Refuting allegations of Opposition parties, he said AP occupied top position in the country in many spheres in agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture sectors.

The Agriculture Mission Vice-President alleged that TDP chief Chandrababu and drought were like twins. While Chandrababu was the CM for 14 years the farmers were in deep trouble and crisis due to lack of rain and acute drought conditions.

He recalled that 1,623 mandals in AP were declared as drought mandals during 2014 to ‘19, and lakhs of bore wells dried up. He criticised Chandrababu for boasting of things that he never did.

After CM Jagan Mohan Reddy took the reins of the State, the farmers were happy as there was adequate rainfall. The groundwater increased, bore wells were back with water and cultivation was in full swing.

Nagi Reddy gave a comparison of agriculture production during the TDP regime from 2014 to 19 and during the present YSRC government.

The average paddy production from 2019 to 2023 was 130. 87 lakh tones (8.94 lakh tones more) when compared to production during 2014 to 2019 was 121.93 lakh tones.

The average food grain production from 2019 to 2023 was 166. 47 lakh tones (12.52 lakh tones more) when compared to production during 2014 to 2019 was 153.95 lakh tones.

The average area of horticulture during 2014 – 2019 was 15.97 lakh with an average production of 228.47 lakh tones.

The average area of horticulture during 2014 – 2022 was 17.96 lakh with an average production of 332.51 lakh tones.

An average area of 2 lakh hectares of horticulture crops was increased during 2019-22, said Nagi Reddy.

He further said that during 2014 -19 the state GSDP from agriculture and horticulture was 29,988 crore only, whereas it was 46,381 crore (55 pc more) during 2019-22. During 2014 -19 the Agriculture GSDP declined by Rs 3,242 crore whereas it was increased to Rs 10,545 crore during 2019-22.

The State average annual growth in per capita income during 2014-10 was Rs 15,032 only whereas during 2019-22 it was Rs 17,914, said State Agriculture Mission Vice-President MVS Nagi Reddy.