Progressive and hard working farmers can make MP top state in world

Bhopal. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan felicitated farmers at a farmers’ convention at his residence here today marking conferment of Krishi Karman Award to Madhya Pradesh for 4th time for outstanding performance in food grain production. He also honoured field officers for extending cooperation to farmers in increasing farm production and productivity. The convention was organised by Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development Department.

Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh has won this award due to hard work of farmers who produced good crops despite adverse conditions. On suggestion of farmers, the Chief Minister announced to re-strucure Balram Talab Yojana. A scheme will also be chalked out to take water of rivulets and nullahs to fields. It is priority of the state government to irrigate every field.

Shri Chouhan said that no field will be deprived of irrigation. Now, instead of conventional method of canals, water will be supplied to fields through pipelines so that water is used more efficiently through system like drip irrigation. Modern technique will be promoted for better use and management of water.

The Chief Minister announced that 1000 progressive farmers will be sent to foreign countries to study modern farming systems. He said that field officers-employees doing commendable work in the interest of farmers should be felicitated every year.

Advisory Board of progressive farmers

Shri Chouhan said that an Advisory Board of progressive farmers will be constituted. The board will comprise progressive farmers of every crop to give advice to government to frame policies and strategies. He said that the state government wishes to use experiences and traditional knowledge of farmers. He shared his farming experiences with farmers. He said that now farmers should move towards horticulture crops. Only hard working farmers can make Madhya Pradesh best example in the world in agriculture sector. He said that along with agriculture, animal husbandry and organic farming should also be adopted.

Prime Minister Shri Modi to visit MP on February 18

Describing PM’s Crop Insurance Scheme as the best, Shri Chouhan said that now farmers will get 25 percent amount immediately. Shri Chouhan informed that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh on February 18. State’s farmers will felicitate him. The Chief Minister said that for the first time in the history of Madhya Pradesh relief worth Rs. 4,500 crore has been deposited in bank accounts of farmers and crop insurance amount of Rs. 4,300 crore will also be provided to them.

Integrated horticulture scheme

Shri Chouhan said that it is not the time to be fully dependent on one crop. Horticulture crops should also be grown side by side and groups of farmers should be formed to ensure them good prices. The Chief Minister directed to chalk out an integrated horticulture scheme.

Shri Chouhan directed to evolve a transparent system to provide drip irrigation and polyhouses to farmers. He informed that farmers will be provided permanent pump connections in next 3 years. Farmers will be given 85 percent subsidy on solar pumps. He said that directives have already been given to constitute a body for experts of horticulture crops. Every farmer will be given benefit of cooperatives. Share-croppers will also get relief amount. One food processing unit will be set up in every Gram Panchayat. He said that national and international rates of produce will be displayed at every mandi. Separate Mandis will be set up for flowers and fruits. Shri Chouhan said that farmers, universities and government will work in tandem like a team.

Agriculture Production Commissioner Shri Prem Chand Meena said that maximum farmer-friendly decisions have been taken in the state. All sectors of agriculture have witnesses growth. It has cast positive impact on food grains production. Principal Secretary Agriculture Dr. Rajesh Rajora informed that the state has made unprecedented progress in agriculture during last one decade. Ten years ago food grains production in the state was 123 lakh MT, which has gone up to 321 lakh MT now. State is second in the country in wheat production, 7th in paddy production, 4th in maize and second in total food grains production. Earlier, 46 lakh hectares were under irrigation, which has increased to 104 lakh hectares now.

Farmers informed as to how they got more yield. Field officers shared their experiences.

19 farmers and 25 departments awarded

At the convention 19 farmers from 10 districts were felicitated. State level awards were given to 10 farmers from Morena, Dewas, Narsinghpur, Harda and Dhar districts on extension of agriculture area under ‘ATMA’ project and 9 farmers of 5 districts were conferred district level awards. State level awards carry Rs. 50 thousand each and district level Rs. 25 thousand each. At the convention, 25 departments, institutions and agriculture universities were also awarded for extending assistance to farmers to increase production. These included Agriculture Production Commissioner, Farmers Welfare & Agriculture Development, Water Resources, Narmada Valley Development Authority, Panchayats & Rural Development, Panchayats & Cooperatives and Energy departments, Jawaharlal Nehru Agriculture University, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University, Agriculture Engineering, Madhya Pradesh State Seeds & Farm Development Corporation, State Agriculture Marketing Board, Madhya Pradesh Seed Certification Institute, State Cooperative Marketing Federation, Agro Industries Development Corporation, Commissioner & Registrar Cooperative Societies, MP State Cooperative Bank, Water Resources, Watershed Development Programmes, District Poverty Initiative Project, MP State Seed Producers and Marketing Federation and Eastern, Central and Western Region Power Distribution Companies.

Agriculture Minister Shri Gaurishankar Bisen, Finance Minister Shri Jayant Malaiya, Labour Minister Shri Antar Singh Arya, Cooperatives Minister Shri Gopal Bhargava, State BJP President Shri Nand Kumar Singh Chouhan, MP Agro’s Chairman Shri Ramkishan Singh Chouhan, Bundelkhand Development Authority’s Chairman Shri Ramkrishna Kusmaria, Vice Chairman Shri Mahendra Yadav, MARKFED’s Chairman Shri Ramakant Bharaga, State Farmers Commission Chairman Shri Bansilal Gurgar, Madhya Pradesh Farmers Federation Chairman Shri Ram Bharose Basauliya, Zila Panchayat President Shri Madan Mohan Nagar, Krishi Upaj Mandi’s President Smt. Shyama Patidar, Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa and large number of farmers were present on the occasion. Director Agricutlure Shri Mohan Lal Meena proposed a vote of thanks.