The India Today Group has selected Telangana for the State with rapid agricultural growth award in recognition of rapid strides made by the State in the sector.
The award would be given at the India Today Agro Summit to achievers in the farming sector.
In a letter addressed to Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, the India Today Group has invited him to receive the award and to share the success story of the State at the summit scheduled at New Delhi on June 23. Reacting to the selection of Telangana State to the award, Mr. Srinivas Reddy said on Tuesday it was a recognition to the efforts being made under the leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to develop agriculture sector and for the welfare of the farming community.
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Expressing his happiness, the Agriculture Minister said the State Government had taken up several initiatives including round-the-clock free power supply to agriculture pump-sets, investment support of ₹4,000 per acre per season irrespective of landholding of farmers, construction of irrigation projects with ₹1.5 lakh crore, ₹5 lakh life insurance cover to farmers in the age group of 18 to 59 years with the government bearing the entire premium amount for the development of agriculture sector and welfare of the farming community.
Besides, supply of farm mechanisation equipment with subsidy, appointment of one agriculture extension officer for every 5,000 acres of farm land and supply of micro irrigation implements with subsidy up to 90% were among a slew of measures taken by the State Government, he said.