Madhya Pradesh has been given the prestigious Krishi Karman Award for year 2013-14 for excellent performance in wheat production. This award has been conferred on Madhya Pradesh for excellence in food grains production in the years 2011 and 2012.
Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh has congratulated Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for this achievement. He said that Chouhan made committed efforts to provide improved hybrid techniques and extension services to the State’s farmers due to which the State has achieved this glory. The award carries `2 crore cash, trophy and citation. It will be conferred at a function to be held soon.
Increase in irrigation capacity, availability of power, timely distribution of seeds and fertilisers, increase in storage capacity, interest-free agriculture loans and bonus on procurement of wheat, paddy and coarse cereals like maize have greatly contributed to this excellent performance in agriculture sector.
Madhya Pradesh stood first in the country in year 2012-13 with production of 277 lakh MT food grains including 161 lakh MT wheat. The State succeeded in maintaining double digit agriculture growth rate continuously.
The State’s contribution is 11.2 per cent in the country’s food grains production. Thus, Madhya Pradesh has left behind food grains producing States Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar.
The criteria which were considered for Krishi Karman Award included food grains production and productivity, cost of farming, increase in productivity as compared to other States and innovations for food grains productions. In year 2007-08, food grains production in the State was 128.30 lakh MT which rose to 277 lakh MT in year 2012-13. Similarly, food grains production was 1064 kg per hectare in year 2007-08 which was increased to 1952 kg per hectare in year 2012-13.
During year 2013-14, 174 lakh MT wheat was produced in the State of which 71 lakh 88 thousand MT was procured on support price while the farmers sold the rest in the State’s mandis.
Madhya Pradesh has achieved 20.15 percent increase in wheat productivity and average increase of 29.76 quintal per hectare. In year 2012-13, Madhya Pradesh became the second top State in wheat production leaving behind Haryana in year 2012-13 and Punjab in year 2013-14.