Set up Agro based industries: TS asks US

Telangana Government is expecting to get cooperation from United States for agro based industries in the state. Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy today conducted a high level review meeting with a US team led by Minister-Counselor for Agriculture Affairs Scott Sindelar and officials here he discussed on the potential of the Telangana State giving impetus to industries.

As the new industrial policy is fetching the best results of huge investments now the government is keen to attract agro based and allied industries in the state the minister said. Later he told newsmen that the meeting was fruitful as both the sides promised to get necessary cooperation in the agro based and allied industries. The US official was informed about uninterrupted power supply, priority to irrigation projects and efforts to provide MSP to farm produce and better harvesting practices for the best yield and income he said. We sought that the focus is on to develop agriculture and allied sectors to ensure that the farmers stop ending their lives and get benefited through their produce. Since Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is of a plan to make the state a seed bowl of India, efforts are on in that direction he said adding that the US promised to help them. The state has 20 lakhs of farmers, while 400 private seed companies are in the state though the former is not getting MSP he said. The US official said that there is scope for setting up the agro based industries in the state wherein some challenges are to be faced. Together India and US have to focus on the protection of seeds to cater to the growing population needs, he stated. (NSS)