§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department has given to the Vision 2020 proposals for agricultural reform in Andhra Pradesh, India. [159759]
§ Clare ShortDFID is providing £15 million over seven years to support a major rural livelihoods project in Andhra Pradesh. A key objective is to support the development of agricultural productivity in the state's rain-fed drylands. Another objective is to support the state Government's capacity to address key policy issues in agriculture, natural resources management and rural development.
We are also currently financing a review of public expenditure in the state. This review will assist the state Government in reallocating resource s to meet the Vision 2020 objectives, including those in the agricultural sector.
With the World Bank, we are considering budgetary assistance to Andhra Pradesh. In the rural sector, the proposed programme would help the state Government provide the necessary enabling environment for faster agricultural growth.