Stating that the Telugu Desam Party government had made farming profitable, Agriculture Minister S. Chandramohan Reddy on Tuesday said the primary sector registered a growth rate of 11% in the last five years owing to farmer-friendly initiatives of the State government.

Addressing a meeting after inaugurating a fan palm products-making unit installed by Dr. YSR Horticulture University and the department of Horticulture at Pandiri Mamidi village near Rampachodavaram, he said a sum of ₹67.7 lakh was spent on the centre which would help tribal farmers gain profits on their produce.

“I am happy to inaugurate the office building of the Horticulture department, constructed at a cost of ₹1.3 crore and the Horticulture laboratory, constructed at ₹1.15 crore. These projects show the government’s commitment towards farmers in general and tribal farmers in particular,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said the centre was first of its kind in the State. Products such as neera, jaggery and sweet syrup would be made out of fan palm leaves, kernels and fruits at the centre.

Calling upon farmers to make better use of government schemes and subsidies, he said efforts were on to make agriculture more profitable.

Local MLA Vantala Rajeswari, Zilla Parishad chairman Jyothula Naveen Kumar and Registrar of the Horticulture University B. Srinivasulu were present.