The unique package - Agronet - aimed at providing the farmers with the latest information on agriculture, including cropping pattern, he added. The scheme will be given final shape within a month, he said.

With liberalisation having set the pace for competition in the agricultural sector as well, it had become essential for farmers and students to be prepared for the growing competition, Vikhe-Patil said. The government was duty-bound to provide the latest information and technology in the field of agriculture to farmers and had therefore taken up up several ambitious schemes in the direction, he added.

Shirdi pilgrim town to get facelift

A RS 32 crore plan has been drawn by the newly formed Shirdi Pilgrim Centre Development Corporation (SPCDC) for all round development of thepilgrim town of Shirdi, home to the famous Sai Baba temple.

SPCDC Chairperson Sushilabai Wahadne told reporters here today that the Sai Baba Sansthan had offered to donate Rs 20 crore of the total amount of Rs 32 crore towards various proposed projects.

A shopping complex with 950 shops has been planned in the vicinity of the Sai Baba temple, she said adding that in the first phase, 300 shops will be constructed at a cost of Rs four crore.

The SPCDC also plans to construct the Ahmednagar-Manmad bypass road to reduce traffic congestion. The project will cost Rs 6 crore, she said. Besides, SPCDC will put up arterial roads, public toilets, initiate water supply projects and develop a helipad and garden in the town, Wahadne added.