The Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said that the State Government is considering implementing a scheme under which the farmers will have to repay only 90 per cent of loans for purchase of seeds and fertilisers. He was addressing a mahasammelan of agriculture producer organisations held during the Krishi Mahotsav at Ujjain on Friday. He announced to provide facilities on par with the public sector undertakings to farmers’ producer companies. He said that food processing units will be given 40 per cent subsidy and assistance for construction of cold storage and cold chain.
Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is ahead of all in constituting farmers’ organisations. He said that the State Government will provide interest subsidy on loans given by banks to farmers’ producer organisations at high interest rate. Farmer producer companies should also come forward in the food processing sector. With this, agriculture will become profitable and the farmers will prosper. Urban Development and Environment Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, School Education Minister Paras Jain, Minister of State Deepak Joshi and Chairman of the State Finance Commission Himmat Kothari were also present on the occasion.
The CM said that the rate of seed transplantation in the State has risen to 30 percent. This has become possible due to formation of agriculture producer companies. He said that when major companies sell produce of the State on high rates then why not agri producer companies do the sameIJ He said that the farmers will become rich only when companies undertake grading, packing and selling in the fields.
The CM said that the amount of bonus given to the farmers every year is with the State Government. It is being contemplated by the Government to introduce a new scheme using this amount. Under the scheme, if a farmer takes loan of Rs100 to purchase fertilizers and seeds he will have to repay only Rs90. Besides, the Government is also considering introducing a new crop insurance policy to provide adequate relief to the farmers in times of calamity. If this scheme materializes it will be unique in the world.
The Chief Minister said that we go to Israel to study methods of farming. In times to come, we would develop so much farming facilities that people will come to Madhya Pradesh for this. He said that Rs 2300 crore Narmada-Khsipra link project is being readied. Efforts are also on to link Parwati and Kali Sindh rivers. In the presence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MoUs were exchanged between agri producer companies and other buyers/sellers.