HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has urged the Centre to immediately announce bonus of Rs 120 per quintal in addition to hiking the minimum support price from the present Rs 1,110 per quintal for paddy.Speaking to senior officials on Sunday, the chief minister said that agriculture would continue to get top priority.“Inspite of frequent adverse weather conditions like drought, cyclones, flash floods and heavy rains, the state is still in the forefront in respect of paddy production which is contributing to national food security. Every step is being taken to make agriculture remunerative since input costs and labour charges have increased considerably,” he noted.He added the agriculture sector has been contributing to a great extent to state’s economy and therefore hike in MSP of paddy was discussed in detail with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders.He said the government’s efforts to co-relate National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and agriculture season will continue to ensure there is no scarcity of labour.Zero interest crop loans of Rs 30,985 crore to farmers during 2011-12 will benefit 94 lakh farmers, he said.
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