Wednesday, March 1 2006 12:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram today(Mar 1,2006) said the Union Budget aims at pushing farm growth to our per cent without which a high 10 per cent economic growth would not be possible.

"We talk of 10 per cent growth rate. Unless agriculture grows at 4 per cent, whatever combination and permutation we may try, we can not attain 10 per cent growth," he told the captains of Indian industry in his customary post-budget meeting with apex chambers.

"The budget has gone an extra-mile to provide a helping hand to agriculture by dealing with crucial issues of credit and infrastructure to push farm growth to four per cent generating additional rural demand for industry and services," he said.

Setting a target of 12 per cent growth for the manufacturing sector, Chidambaram has invited trade and industry for a meeting on May one to remove fiscal obstacles that came in the way of the target.

Of course, he said the 10 per cent growth requires industry and servis to grow at a double digit figure.

"These issues could be addressed. I want the manufacturing to grow at 12 per cent. Let me make an open offer. Take time and meet me on May one. All chambers canmake a list of what stands between you and 12 per cent growth and we shall address them," he said.

Services sector, if they have any issue "I am willing to address those also," he said.

"Urban English speaking middle class is not all-India. India is Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh where people are still starving and committing suicide," he said.