Traditional welcome awaits Bush at University

The United States President George W Bush will be accorded a traditional welcome at Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University on arrival in Hyderabad on March 3.

Tribal dancers from Bhadrachalam would greet him at the reception for the US President and his entourage at the helipad on the University campus, according to an official release on Monday night. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy will introduce his cabinet colleagues and other prominent personalities to the visiting dignitary.

Bush will go around demonstration fields on the University campus where new varieties of hybrid crops are being raised on an experimental basis. This will be followed by an interaction with top farm scientists and progressive farmers from the state on latest trends in wet and dryland farming and improvised farm techniques, the official release said. 

The US President will be introduced later to successful women Self-Help Group leaders from villages "who have altered their destiny through the power tools of thrift and collective bargaining."

President Bush in India

"The love of Mr Bush and Dr Reddy for agriculture and their unstinted support for the cause of uplift of farmers is almost a legend," the release said, recalling that during his stint as Texas Governor, Bush had played a pivotal role in providing relief to farmers of his state to emerge out of their 'seasonal hardships.'

Similarly, Dr Reddy has shown his commitment to farmers' welfare by writing off power dues of Rs 12 billion on the very day he assumed office in May 2004. Earlier, Dr Reddy used to visit his farm estate in his native Kadapa district and supervise development of agriculture and livestock whenever he could spare time from political and administrative tasks, the release added.

The Chief Minister has launched the popular Rajiv Palle Bata (Visit to Villages) Programme to ascertain the success of the Government programmes. Andhra Pradesh government embarked on the Rs 460 billion Jala Yagnam (Irrigation Initiative) to create irrigation facilities for over 7.5 million hectares. Free power supply to small and marginal farmers and moratorium on private and bank debts of farmers are the other significant initiatives of his government.