lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agriculture policy, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday highlighted his Government's commitment towards the farming community and thanked the farmers for enabling the State win 'Krishi Karman' award for the fourth consecutive year.
Chouhan, who was speaking at the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh office here, also talked about his interest in farming. “Even today, I spend six hours every week on farming. One cannot formulate policies sitting in the ministry. Those who have not seen agriculture, how can they make agricultural policiesIJ” he asked.
Chouhan said Madhya Pradesh has won the 'Krishi Karman' award only because of the hard work put in by the farmers. "Madhya Pradesh has won this award due to the hard work of farmers who produced good crops despite adverse conditions," the Chief Minister said.
He said, “We have deposited Rs. 3800 crores in the accounts of farmers as compensation. It is for the first time in Indian history that such a large amount has been transferred to the farmers' accounts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the best agriculture policy of independent India. I thank him for this,” he added.
Describing the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' as "best", Chouhan said, "Now farmers will get 25 per cent amount immediately."
Chouhan also announced that 1,000 progressive farmers will be sent to foreign countries to study modern farming systems and that a farmers' advisory board will also be constituted.
"The board will comprise progressive farmers of every crop to give advice to government to frame policies and strategies," he said. The state is second in the country in wheat production, seventh in paddy production, fourth in maize and second in total food grains production. Earlier, 46 lakh hectares were under irrigation, which has increased to 104 lakh hectares now, he added.