Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the State Government has taken a number of decisions to make agriculture profitable during last 9 years.
State Government has provided Rs 9000 crore loans to 30 lakh farmers at zero per cent interest rate during year 2012. During earlier regime, crop loans were given at the rate of 15 to 16 per cent interest. The present State Government reduced it to 7 per cent in year 2003, 5 per cent in 2008, 3 per cent in 2010 and zero per cent in year 2011 for purchasing fertilisers and seeds due to which lakhs of farmers are benefiting.
Due to extension of crop loans to farmers at zero per cent interest rate, percentage of recovery of loans in the cooperative sector has also increased. It rose to 78.04 per cent in year 2012. Under another significant decision in the cooperative sector, over 45 lakh farmers have been provided Kisan Credit Cards.
Chouhan held direct dialogue for the first time in Madhya Pradesh at Kisan Panchayat on August 30, 2006 and sought suggestions from them to chalk out future strategies.
He changed name of Agriculture Department to Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture Development Department. For ensuring farmers’ welfare, the State Government took a number of decisions and no new tax was imposed on agricultural implements. Besides, farmers were provided facility to purchase sprinklers, drip irrigation and other implements from open market.
For providing benefit of latest agriculture research and studies, the government is changing existing norms for opening agriculture and veterinary colleges with the help of private sector.
Processing units have been opened in a number of places on the basis of classification of crops, fruits, vegetables, organic crops etc. Subsidy worth 40 per cent of the cost upto a maximum of Rs 80,000 each is being given while SC, ST farmers are being provided 75 per cent subsidy upto a maximum of Rs one lakh for Balram Talabs.
For purchasing bullock carts and pair of oxen, marginal SC, ST farmers with upto 2 hectare arable land are being provided 50 per cent subsidy on the cost or Rs 5000, whichever is less. Electronic weighing machines have been installed at Mandis in the state to facilitate farmers.
As per announcements made at Kisan Panchayat, State Farmers’ Welfare Commission has been constituted. Similarly, in pursuance to announcement made at Kisan Mahapanchayat of February 20, 2008, the State Government started giving Rs 100 per quintal bonus on procurement of wheat in addition to the support price announced by the Union Government.