Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the state had maximum agricultural production during the kharif season of 2017-18, despite 30 per cent less rainfall, due to effective water conservation schemes of the state government.
Fadnavis said that farm production during last year was “historically positive” and was similar to the record one in 2012-13 that was aided by the state receiving 110 per cent of its average rainfall.
“last year, there was 30 per cent less rain but we had maximum production like in 2012-13. This is because of effective water conservation schemes like Jalyukt Shivar which helped to improve soil moisture and also provide irrigation,” Fadnavis said.
“We have seen historically positive agriculture growth rate with our all round efforts. In spite of 30 per cent less rainfall last year, we could manage well due to our efforts for sustainable irrigation and an investment-based approach,” he added.
He said that the meteorological department had predicted a satisfactory monsoon this year with a forecast of 92-110 per cent of the average rainfall.
“This year too, the IMD (India Meteorological Department) has predicted a satisfactory monsoon. The forecast is that there will be 92 to 110 per cent rains. Farmers will benefit,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis said that for the next month and a half, more concentration was needed on credit supply as well as on implementing the state government’s farm loan waiver scheme.
“Collectors should plan and monitor this. Another area of monitoring is crop insurance so as to avoid any last moment rush,” Fadnavis.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis said that, as part of the plan, students of agriculture colleges would be required to send agro advisories to farmers, collect data and ensure that a proper mechanism was created to disseminate information to farmers at the ground-level.
He told reporters that students would get a stipend, funded by the state government, for this work.
“The students will be responsible for sending agro advisories to farmers, data collection and ensuring all the agriculture related schemes and policies reach farmers,” Fadnavis said.
He said the need of the hour was to ensure correct advisories to farmers in order to avoid double sowing.
“We need to create a mechanism for information dissemination and proper communication on the ground,” Fadnavis said.
He said that the government was ready to make a provision for “earn while you learn” scheme which will work on an app-based mechanism.
“With this, we can reach out to farmers, have speedy communication, and do various interventions,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis was speaking while chairing a review meeting of the Kharif season this year.
The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, secretaries of departments, Vice-Chancellors of various agriculture universities, collectors, CEOs of Zilla Parishads among others.