Union Minister lays foundation stone for Agri university

Guntur: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Monday laid the foundation stone for an agriculture university at Lam Farm in Andhra Pradesh.

The university, which is coming up on 500 acres at a cost of Rs.1,505 crore, is one of the institutes of higher learning and research promised by the Centre to the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urged the union agriculture minister to accord it the status of a central university and make available the requisite funds and facilities.

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to name it Acharya N. Ranga Agricultural University. Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony, Mohan Singh said that agricultural universities would have to play a greater role in undertaking research and extension to the fields as technology would play a great role. The minister also said the country has 73 agricultural universities and 101 ICAR research institutions were currently serving the farming community.

Chandrababu Naidu said since 65 percent of the state's population was dependent on agriculture, his government was giving top priority to the sector. Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that with the establishment of the agricultural university, the Centre had taken another step to fulfil the commitments made to Andhra Pradesh.

Union ministers Ashok Gajapati Raju, Y.S. Chowdary, several state ministers and public representatives were also present.

Source: IANS