‘Krushi Road Map’ to achieve 15% GVA growth in agriculture

The first meeting on the ‘Krushi Road Map’, an initiative of the Government of India, aimed at achieving a 15% growth in Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture was held on Wednesday in Andhra Pradesh.

The eight-member committee, led by Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, met at the Office of the Director of Agriculture, Mangalagiri.

The ‘Krushi Road Map’ was formulated with the support of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, following a request from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, to accelerate agricultural growth in line with the State’s Swarna Andhra @2047 Vision.

On the occasion, Executive Officer and Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture & Cooperation) Budithi Rajasekhar, who chaired the meeting, said nearly 35% of Andhra Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) depended on the primary sector. While continuing farmer welfare schemes, the State was focusing on structural transformation to enhance farm incomes and value addition.

He highlighted plans to develop Rayalaseema as a Global Horticulture Hub, with an additional six lakh hectares proposed to be brought under horticulture over the next three years.

Discussions focused on promoting millets, expanding pulses, oilseeds and oil palm cultivation, bringing fallow lands under use, strengthening value addition, supporting Farmer Producer Organizations with modern equipment, and improving drought resilience through micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting and agrivoltaics.

The State also sought Central support for infrastructure creation and technology adoption.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Agarwal assured full Central assistance, stressing convergence of Central and State schemes, systematic planning and promotion of value-based crops to boost GVA and farm incomes. The committee also undertook field visits in Guntur district.