Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that efforts will be stepped up to establish soya industry in Madhya Pradesh. Soya industries have to be revived in the interest of farmers. Steps will be taken in the direction of benefitting the farmers by increasing soyabean production, selling the produce and setting up of processing units. Efforts will be made that farmers get full value for their hard work, so measures will be taken in the field of exports as well. At present, the capital of the nation is being spent due to the increase in the import of soya oil. Therefore the introduction of soya processing units assumes significance. Establishment of such units will be encouraged to provide benefit to farmers by taking raw material from them and adding value to their products.
The Chief Minister was addressing the Bhoomi-Poojan programme of soya plant costing about 360 crores in village Khairwas of Badnawar tehsil of Dhar district on Sunday.
Chouhan participated virtually in this programme of IB Group. Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Minister Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon performed bhoomi-pujan of the plant on the spot. The work of this plant, which will give direct employment to about 500 people, will be completed in the next 18 months. Production will be done with a capacity of about 3000 metric tonnes. Local farmers will get adequate price for soyabean crop.
Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh has received Krishi Karman Award seven times due to the hard work of the farmers. Now we are moving rapidly from agriculture to food processing. There is an investment friendly environment in Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wants to double the income of farmers. To fulfill their resolve, such plants will be helpful which will benefit the farmers. In the state, facilities like zero percent loans are being made available along with the system to increase production, reduce cost and providing fair price.
Earlier, through Bhavantar Yojana, farmers were provided the difference between the prices of the crop in the market. The selection of Madhya Pradesh for soya processing unit is also justified, because consumers will get edible oil at a lower price and soyabean growing farmers will also be benefitted. Incentives will be given by the State Government for setting up such units. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that new investments are also necessary for employment generation. Policies have also been amended from time to time to create a conducive environment for the establishment of industries in Madhya Pradesh.
Soyabean is called yellow gold
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that there are 11 climatic zones in the state. Madhya Pradesh is world famous in terms of production and quality of wheat. We have also left Punjab behind in wheat production. Similarly, we have come ahead in the production of pulses and oilseeds. Not only this, Madhya Pradesh is also making progress in the production of fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants. At one time, Madhya Pradesh was at number one in soyabean too. It is called yellow gold. Work was done to change the economic condition of the farmers, but the damage to the crops was also considerable. In this regard, the cooperation of the experts of the Agricultural University will be obtained. Three government and six private universities are doing agricultural research in the state.
Irrigation has changed the picture, Badnawar will get the benefit of Narmada water
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that earlier 6 to 7 lakh hectare area was under irrigation in the state. It has grown by up to 43 lakh hectares in the last 18 years. Our target is 65 lakh hectares. About one crore eight lakh hectare area is being irrigated by government and private means. Madhya Pradesh has become one of the leading states in the country in agriculture sector due to abundant irrigation. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the farmers of Badnwar region would be particularly benefitted by the establishment of this plant. Irrigation facilities will be increased here. Efforts will also be made to ensure that Badnawar gets the benefit of adequate Narmada water.