Madhya Pradesh has registered 25 per cent increase in agriculture production this year. Agriculture production was 4.50 crore MT this year compared to 3.60 crore MT last year. Production of food grains has also increased by 30 per cent. It was 2.22 crore MT last year, which has increased to 3.21 crore MT this year.
Giving details of departmental activities during one year, Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen informed that pulses production has increased by 20 percent. It was 38.20 lakh MT last year, which has increased to 47.48 lakh MT.
Similarly, about one lakh MT increase has been recorded in oilseed production. Wheat and paddy production has increased by 5 per cent, maize 10 percent and mustard production has increased by 4 per cent.
In the State, organic farming area was 1.60 lakh hectares, which has increased by about 10 times to 17.58 lakh hectares this year. Madhya Pradesh enjoys the distinction of contributing over 40 per cent organic production of the country. Similarly, pump power has increased to 1.36 kilowatt per hectare. Paddy was planted through SIR Method in 5.48 lakh hectares this year to maximise production. Farmers were provided 20,000 cono weeders and 10,000 markets on 90 per cent subsidy.
Third crop area in the state has also increased. This year, third crop was produced in about 3 lakh hectares. Additional 2 lakh hectare in Bundelkhand wes brought under line sowing. Rate of seed replacement has risen by over 21 percent.
Bisen informed that soybean sowing operations with ridge and furrow method were undertaken in 36 lakh hectares in the State this year. Deep ploughing under Haldhar Yojana has been made in 60 thousand hectares. In all, 200 villages have been developed under Yantradoot Yojana. As many as 730 custom hiring centres were set up in private sector and 510 new ones are being set up. Under the schemes, maximum Rs. 10 lakh subsidy has been given. He informed that 992 lakh SMSes were sent for timely advice to farmers.
Krishi Mahotsav was celebrated from May 25 to June 15 to make farmers aware and distribute agricultural implements to them.