Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that new agricultural laws will be useful in the economic development of farmers. The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 is being effectively implemented in Madhya Pradesh. Apart from the mandi, farmers will get the benefit of alternative methods to sell their crop.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that the irrigation area of Madhya Pradesh will be continually increased. This is the top priority of the state government. For me, after God it is the farmer. The farmer grows food on the earth by toiling hard. Farmers are the focal point of our system. The expansion of irrigation resources is a boon for these sons of the soil (farmers). Irrigation area of the state will be raised to 65 lakhs. Prime Minister Shri Modi wants to double the income of farmers.
Madhya Pradesh will be active in accomplishing this goal. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was addressing the virtual dedication and bhoomi pujan programme of irrigation schemes at Minto Hall on Monday.
Chouhan said that the irrigation potential created in the state is being fully utilized. This year Madhya Pradesh surpassed Punjab in wheat production. At least there was no food crisis during Corona period. It proved to be a relief during this period. Agricultural infrastructure will be strengthened in the state. Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) will be given the form of a movement. Our aim is to change the condition of farmers.
Chouhan said that the area under irrigation used to be only 7-8 lakh hectare earlier, which we have increased to 40 lakh hectare. Now the target is 65 lakh hectare. Every inch of agricultural land will be irrigated. Chouhan said that schemes worth Rs 30,000 crore will be approved in the coming year. Narmada water will be fully utilized. The implementation of Narmada schemes will also be completed in three years.
The Kisan Rail is running on the initiative of Prime Minister Modi. Necessary steps will be constantly taken to ensure that the farmer gets the right price for his produce. In the state, 27 major, 47 medium and 287 minor irrigation projects costing Rs 60,737 crore are under construction.
Their irrigation potential will be of 24 lakh hectares. The work for accomplishing this goal has started. Partial irrigation facility has been provided in about four lakh hectare area. Sprinkler irrigation method is also being encouraged. Chief Minister Chouhan said that Covid-19 has affected the construction of schemes to some extent but this year the target is to develop additional irrigation potential in 1.25 lakh hectares by completing about 100 projects. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the cost of 50 schemes dedicated today is Rs 384.35 crore. This will irrigate an area of 16,336 hectares. Farmers of 131 villages of 9 districts of the state will be benefited. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also performed bhoomi pujan for three other irrigation schemes worth Rs. 7.82 crore in Ratlam district.