Madhya Pradesh win the Prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award
New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh was awarded with Prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award 2012 for outstanding works in Agriculture sector. Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Harish Rawat awarded M.P. Agriculture Minister Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria at a function organised by Agriculture Today Magazine here today. Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Production Commissioner Shri M.M. Upadhyay, Principal Secretary Agriculture Shri R.K. Swain and Director Agriculture were present on the occasion. Other recipients of the awards among States were Himachal Pradesh and Kerala. This award was decided in the National Award Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Pioneer of India’s Green Revolution to Madhya Pradesh for overall outstanding performance of the State in Agriculture sector. The Committee selected Madhya Pradesh for the its initiative for policy making in agriculture sector, best agriculture management, crop cycle change under the national horticulture mission, production of hybrid seeds, achievement of highest agriculture growth rate in the country and bringing about positive change in the economy of the state.
The award was instituted by Agriculture Today Magazine in the year 2008. The best agriculture state award for 2008 was given to Andhra Pradesh, 2009 award went to Maharashtra, 2010 to Gujarat and 2011 to Karnataka.
It may be mentioned here that under the leadership and guidance of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan the State has achieved many landmarks in the field of agriculture. A separate Krishi Cabinet was constituted to take decisions about agriculture policy matters and allied activities. Crop loan at zero per cent interest rate to farmers was made available. Balram Talab Scheme was announced for irrigation with the assistance of upto Rs. one lakh. Kisan Credit Card was introduced for farmers. State Government has waived off Electricity Bill of Rupees 1800 cr. for agriculture consumers.
