NEW YORK (TIP): Farmers and farming policy makers in Andhra Pradesh will benefit from the expertise of American researchers and educators in near future. K. Lakshminarayana, AP’s Minister of Agriculture, recently signed memos of understanding with the universities of Maryland and Mississippi during his recent visit to the two universities, which will facilitate exchange of faculty members and academicians between USA and Andhra Pradesh. Lakshminarayana, stopped in New York City on his way home from the visit.

He was accorded a warm welcome and reception by the Andhra Pradesh Chapter of Indian National Overseas Congress at Cotillion Restaurant in Long Island, New York. Lakshminarayana (52), who has been credited for winning all elections since 1991, complimented the people of Andhra Pradesh for playing a predominant role in the IT sector in Silicon Valley and other parts of USA. Lakshminarayana, who won the Assembly seat from Pedukurapadu, Guntur (West) constituency for the fourth term, outlined his government’s plans to help farmers in Andhra Pradesh and said that Congress party believed in a farmer friendly policy. He said that hundred of thousands of farmers were benefitted by government’s free electricity; crop insurance and the credit plan called Kissan Credit.

The minister informed that his state will host the world Agricultural Summit in November 2013 for which Hyderabad was selected as the venue. He invited those whose primary interest was agricultural development. Andhra Pradesh chapter of INOC honored the minister by presenting him a shawl. A proclamation from the Chief Executive of Nassau County was also presented to him. Mahesh Saladi, AP chapter president of INOC, said that Congress party embarked on ambitious projects to help the poor in Andhra Pradesh. “Many of those programs were initiated by K. Lakshminarayana and were timely completed”, he said George Abraham, president of INOC said that his party was engaged in building public opinion on a variety of issues.

“We are united over raising the issues concerning Non-Resident Indians”, he said adding that NRI Interface council was formed for the purpose of dealing with issues such as property protection in India. It was reported in the past that in India locals forcibly grabbed properties bought and owned by NRIs. Abraham said that he also initiated Business council for the purpose of promoting investment in India and discussing matters of trade and commerce with the Indian government. “We want the council to be thank tank for developmental issues”, he said. Others who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Neil Mandava, Dr. Gaddam Reddy, D. Dhasratharam Reddy, M. Nageshwar Rao and Mohinder Singh Gilzian.