Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that 50 lakh hectares will be irrigated in the State by year 2018. At present, 36 lakh hectares are under irrigation.
He said that subject experts from all over the country will discuss new insurance policy to give full compensation to farmers at Bhopal on June 15 and 16. Chouhan was inaugurating State-level agriculture-horticulture science fair during Krishi Mahotsav at Rewa on Thursday.
The Chief Minister said that Krishi Mahotsav is an event to inspire farmers to adopt modern technologies. He said that availing its benefit, farmers can change pattern of farming and make agriculture profitable. He said that farmers should adopt horticulture and protected farming along with agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. This will boost farmers’ financial condition. He expressed happiness that not only wheat production has increased in Rewa area, but its quality is also being appreciated in country and abroad.
Chouhan said that a better alternative has been given to farmers in lieu of bonus under which they will have to repay only 90 per cent of loans availed by them. He felt pride that State’s agriculture growth rate has increased to 24 per cent, highest in the country as a result of hard work of farmers. He urged farmers to store advance quota of seeds and fertilisers. Chouhan said that efforts will be made to make available water of Bargi dam in Satna district and Bansagar dam in Sidhi district’s farmers.
Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen, Public Relations and Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla and Horticulture, Food Processing and Animal Husbandry Minister Kusum Mahdele also spoke on the occasion.
The CM also inspected an exhibition put up by Agriculture, Rural Development, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Horticulture and Health
departments. He gave away soil health cards, grants under Balram Talab Yojana, rotavators for horticulture crops and cheques to beneficiaries of E-ladli laxmi.