Alexander was speaking at the inaugural function of Agro-Advantage Maharashtra Global Investors' Convention on Friday.

The governor emphasised the need for non-traditional farming such as dairy development, poultry, horticulture, floriculture and meat-processing.

"Such a strategy is required as the state will be able to irrigate only a third of the land available while the remaining lacks irrigation despite the huge allocation of funds," he said.

Alexander expressed serious concern over the acute shortage of irrigation facilities in the state. He said that only 16.32 per cent of the total crop area was irrigated in Maharashtra as against Tamil Nadu's 46.2 per cent, 57.2 per cent in Uttar Pradesh and against 96.6 per cent in Punjab.

The governor said if farmers are given theopportunity they will definitely switch over to non farming. He praised the state government's horticulture development programme implemented since 1990 and added that the land which has been brought under horticultural increased from 2.5 lakh hectares to 8 lakh hectares and will touch 15 lakh hectares in the coming three years.

Alexander said in horticulture, farmers should adopt latest technologies to boost horticulture production and exports. Though the state was well ahead of others in grapes and mangoes much more could be done to improve output.

Maharashtra's seedless grape production accounts for 78 per cent of the country's total production, while mangoes and pomegranates are 85 per cent, 55 per cent in the case of onions and 39 per cent in bananas. He said that the Uruguay negotiations have made available numerous opportunities for exports and its condition of cut off rate of 10 per cent in subsidy will not affect export opportunities of the state.

Yogendra Alagh, a former union minister laudedthe state government's decision to set up an agro-fund of Rs 500 crore to create infrastructure for agro sector. He called upon the centre and state governments to carve of a funding arrangement whereby the projects with high rate of return will be funded. "At present National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development can provide funds worth Rs 4,000 per hectare which were too short," he added.

The union minister of state for agriculture, Som Pal said that the BJP-led government was committed to the speedy growth of agriculture in the country and added that it had taken several measures in this regard. He stated that there exists capital starvation in the agriculture sector and added that the proposed crop insurance scheme will help the farmers lot and save from the vagaries of nature.

Maharashtra's chief minister, Manohar Joshi said that the state has taken various initiatives to boost agro economy including new agricultural policy and a special incentive package. He called upon the prime minister ABVajpayee to provide additional funds to meet the damages caused due to the recent unseasonal rains that have damaged crops, especially onions. Vajpayee has asked the state government to submit a detailed plan of action in this regard.

Joshi also urged the prime minister to give a five-year extension for the cotton monopoly procurement scheme.