Madhya Pradesh has been conferred Krishi Karman Award for food grain production for the third time. Madhya Pradesh is the first State to receive the award in this category thrice. The State has been conferred this award for maximum food grains production for year 2014.

Earlier, the State received the award in the same category for year 2011-12 and 2012-13. The award for year 2013-14 was conferred to the State in wheat production category.

In Madhya Pradesh, 3.20 crore MT food grains was produced during year 2014-15. It was 2.80 crore MT during year 2013-14. Madhya Pradesh has been conferred Krishi Karman Award for consecutive fourth year by Central Government.

In yet another achievement, Madhya Pradesh has risen to second position in the country in wheat production leaving Punjab behind. During year 2014-15, wheat production in the state was 1.84 crore MT against 1.71 crore wheat produced in Punjab.

The State produced only 73.65 lakh MT wheat during year 2003-04. The state has also excelled remarkably in wheat productivity. During year 2013-14, wheat productivity was 2405 kg per hectare, which has increased to 3079 kg per hectare during year 2014-15. As per estimates, State’s agriculture growth rate was 20.11 per cent during year 2014-15. For last 4 years, average agriculture growth of Madhya Pradesh has been 15 per cent.

In Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand regions, 4 lakh hectares area was brought under row sowing method. During year 2014-15, third crop was grown in 3.60 lakh hectares. Deep ploughing was undertaken under Haldhar Yojana in 3 lakh hectares. In all, 200 villages were developed as Yantradoot Grams. Dharwad Method of arhar production was promoted.

Adding another feather to State’s cap, 1.09 lakh fallow land was converted into arable land in single year during year 2014-15. Along with it, paddy area was also increased by 5.48 lakh hectares through SRI Method. Seed replacement rate in all major crops rose from 14.03 per cent to 27.12 per cent. These include paddy from 8.82 per cent to 24 per cent, maize from 10.94 per cent to 69.44 per cent, gram 2.90 per cent to 13.59 per cent, soybean from 14.77 per cent to 22.37 per cent and seed replacement rate in mustard crops rose from 16.88 per cent to 40.90 per cent.

 Madhya Pradesh also witnessed 95 per cent increase in rice production last year. Paddy production was 27.70 lakh MT during year 2013-14, which rose to 54.38 lakh MT during year 2014-15.

 Expansion of irrigation facilities has played a significant role in these achievements in agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh.