Andhra Pradesh government targets to achieve 18.2 per cent Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the current fiscal by focusing on agriculture and allied sectors, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday.

Naidu was heading a meeting with his ministers, district collectors, secretaries and heads of various departments here to review state's recently launched 'Primary Sector Mission'. The CM said though AP has been facing many financial constraints post bifurcation, it managed to achieved one per cent higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last financial year than the national average.

He said in 2015-16 financial year, the state aims to achieve 18.2 per cent GSDP to Rs 1.65 lakh crore from 1.45 lakh crore in the previous fiscal. Agriculture and its allied sectors in the state alone contribute 27 per cent of GSDP, and particularly aqua sector's (includes fisheries, shrimp) share in it is six per cent.

In order to increase irrigation potentiality, the government has expedited the process to complete the current projects, Naidu said, adding that with completion of the projects, total irrigation potentiality of the state will go up from the existing 68-86 lakh hectare by the end of 2019.

He apprised as a part of many initiatives to improve the agricultural activity, the government plans to set up four universities in agriculture, horticulture,fisheries and animal husbandry fields. Naidu also said that to provide technical support for the farming community, the government is recruiting 8,000 agricultural extension officers in a phased manner.