Agriculture has become profitable in the state: CM

  Sushma Swaraj lauds farmers' welfare programmes in MP

Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that due to Madhya Pradesh government's farmer-friendly policies, success is being achieved in making agriculture profitable. This is the result of better irrigation facilities, loans on lower interest rate, adequate power supply and increased compensation against loss to crops.

The Madhya Pradesh government has also motivated farmers for adopting organic farming. The state government will continue its farmers welfare programme. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was presiding over a function on the occasion of inauguration of three-day state level AATMA Agricultural Fair here today, which was organised jointly by Farmers' Welfare Department and KJ Education Society. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Smt. Sushma Swaraj was the chief guest.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan and Smt. Sushma Swaraj also inspected the agriculture exhibition at the venue.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is the first state which has given Rs 100 per quintal bonus on the procurement of wheat from farmers. In view of bumper wheat crop in the state a target was set to procure 23 lakh metric tonnes of wheat but according to latest estimates 35 to 40 lakh metric tonnes of wheat is likely to be procured this year. A separate provision of funds has been made in this year's budget for feeder separation work with a view to ensuring smooth power supply.

Consolidated efforts are being made for increasing power generation. This will specially facilitate farmers in the coming years. Kapil Dhara and Balram Talab schemes are being implemented for increasing irrigation potential. 

The farmers belonging to reserved classes are being provided benefits under supply of diesel pumps and electric motors. Farmers are being given adequate compensation in the case of death due to electricity current while working in the fields, chopping off of finger or hand while operating thrasher and deaths due to overturning of tractor trolley.

Farmers no longer wander about for getting compensation against loss to their crops due to drought, hail storm etc. The compensation amount has also been increased. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that farmers are being provided loans at the nominal rate of 3 per cent. Rest of the interest amount will be paid by the state government.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Smt. Sushma Swaraj lauded the efforts being made in Madhya Pradesh for increasing agricultural productivity and making agriculture profitable. Smt. Swaraj described this symposium as useful for farmers. Smt. Swaraj said that organic farming has been a part of Indian agriculture system. 

Now, other countries are also adopting this system in new forms. She said that other industries determine their product's prices themselves but on the contrary farmers are deprived of the right to fix the prices of their products. Smt. Swaraj said that this year crops of wheat are bumper in Madhya Pradesh.

Smt. Swaraj hoped that Madhya Pradesh will become a pioneering state after formulation of Food Security Law. She lauded the state government for providing Rs 100 per quintal bonus to farmers on wheat procurement. Smt. Swaraj said that important works are being undertaken for farmers' welfare in Madhya Pradesh. At a time when farmers in other parts of the country are getting farm equipment at a high cost and less price for their products, the Madhya Pradesh government is providing bonus and other facilities to farmers.

Addressing the function, Farmers' Welfare Minister Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria said that Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has organised Panchayats for the welfare and uplift of various sections of society. 

Significantly, this process had begun with Kisan Panchayat. There was a time when farmers were forced to pay as high as 18 per cent interest on the loans secured by them earlier but the Madhya Pradesh government has reduced to 3 per cent gradually. Farmers are being informed about modern-day farming techniques and organic farming. The Organic Policy of the state has been drafted. Organic farming is being undertaken on a large scale in Indore division.

Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Brijendra Pratap Singh proposed a vote of thanks. Earlier, he threw light in detail on the measures undertaken by the state government for farmers' welfare.

Principal Secretary Agriculture Shri IS Dani said that AATMA scheme is being implemented with a view to strengthening agriculture extension programmes. Madhya Pradesh tops in the implementation of this Centre-sponsored scheme. The function was conducted by Smt. Sadhna Gangrade.

At the outset, distinguished guests were welcomed by Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner Agriculture Production Shri MK Rai, Principal Secretary Shri IS Dani, Director Agriculture Shri DN Sharma and director of KJ Education Society. Farmers' Welfare Commission chairperson Shri Rajendra Pathak and Kisan Sangh's state president Shri Shiv Kumar Sharma were also present at the function.