Action Plan

I. INITIATIVES – HORTICULTURE SECTOR

A. Horticulture Sector.

q	Agri Export Zone for chillies is set up at Guntur.
q	State Level Task Force Committee and District Level Task Force Committees were constituted for review and facilitating exports from AEZs.
q	Promotion of organic farming in coconut and Oilpalm besides encouraging setting up of vermi-compost units.
q	An increase of 250% under the area expansion of oilpalm from 2779 ha. during 2003-04 to 5973 ha. during 2004-05 and 8450 ha. during 2005-06 so far.
q	Oilpalm progressive farmers (47 Nos) and (3 Nos) officers were sponsored to Malaysia for learning new practices.
q	Promotion of inter crop in Oilpalm.
q	In 75000 ha. coconut plants were treated with root feeding for the control of eriophyid mite attack on coconut as a special package announced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister.
q	Bio technology center, Gopannapalem is set up at a cost of Rs.3.10 crores is made operational for production of tissue culture banana plants and leaf analysis by involving private sector participation.
q	37 Horticulture farms were revived in the state and 13.85 lakhs of genuine quality plant material is produced and supplied to the farmers.
q	Constituted an exclusive committee to study the production and marketing problems relating to tomato and acidlime and for making recommendations to the Government for over come those problems with officials, farmers, scientists, exporters as member under the chairman ship of APC & Prl Secretary. Recommendations of study committee on tomato and acidlime was considered by the government and follow up action initiated.
q	Rythu Chaitanya Yatras and Rythu Sadassulu organized by the Government covering each and every village.
q	Decentralization of training programmes and extension of gardeners training course for the malies to the selected districts.
q	Provided training to the grape growers and awareness on HACCP certification.
q	The Hon’ble Chief Minister has launched AAP 2005-06 of NHM as a part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of A.P Formation on 3^rd November 2005 with an outlay of Rs.87.18 crores. The total allocation for three years is about Rs. 330.00 crores
q	MOU signed with NDDB for setting up of fruit and vegetable markets in the State.

B. INITIATIVES – APMIP:

Sprinkler systems restricted to 25% of total area.

Inline drip manufacturing criteria relaxed.

Nine (seven AP based) new MI companies included.

Oil palm crop included.

Prices revised in view of the steep rise in the prices of raw material.

Permission obtained from NABARD for treating district as a unit.

Permission given to farmers to avail APMIP on notarized lease agreement for five years instead of registered lease agreements.

Subsidy for drip irrigation systems enhanced to

60% for 21 districts (except Anantapur) from 50%

70% for Anantapur from 66%

90% subsidy to Jatropha in 10 identified RSAD districts

4% VAT being paid on behalf of farmers

Awareness building through Rythu Chitanya Yatralu and Ruthu Sadassulu

District cells strengthened by providing MI Specialist ( Agri. Engg.. Graduate)

Vehicle for transport

Time frame fixed for each stage of activity

Acceptance of deferred payment by MI companies in respect of sugarcane

District allocations made based on potential and demand

Banking action plan cleared by SLBC and adopted in districts

APMIP coverage with bank finance being reviewed in SLBC regional reviews

Provision of non-subsidy portion by SC & ST corporations to cover weaker section farmers

Weekly reviews with MI companies by COH

Fortnightly videoconferences with Dist. Officers by COH

Frequent tours by COH and other officers

COH, PO and OSDs are in constant touch with districts to clear pending payments and are giving timely clarifications

Complete integration of Horticultural Department with APMIP

Weekly reviews by District Collectors with Project Directors, Sectoral officers, Bankers, MI companies

Monitoring evaluation by

·	Engineering Staff College of India (Telangana Districts)
·	CRIDA (Rayalaseema Districts)
·	Agricultural Finance Corporation (Coastal Andhra Districts)
·	Quality control test by CIPET

II. IMPORTANT POLICY DECISION (S) TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT

q	Government has enhanced the subsidy from 50% to 60% of the cost of drip irrigation system supplied in 21 districts and 66% to 70% in Ananthapur district. However the ceiling of Rs.50,000/- for beneficiary/family /farmer vide G.O.Ms.No.175A&C(Horti.), dt.10-06-2005.
q	Government ordered for payment of 4% VAT by APMIP on behalf of the beneficiary farmers.
q	The Hon’ble Chief Minister has launched AAP 2005-06 of NHM as a part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of A.P Formation on 3^rd November 2005 with an outlay of Rs.87.18 crores.