The farmers who were turning away from their ancestral occupation of farming in the previous decade, have once again engaged themselves in farming with renewed vigour as a result of sustained efforts by the State Government to turn farming a lucrative proposition.
On one hand, farming cost has been brought down and on the other considerable increase has been made in the income through farming. While the farmers have started applying latest farming techniques, the State Government has earnestly implemented national agriculture programmes.By its credible achievements, Madhya Pradesh has left behind traditionally major agrarian States like Punjab and Haryana.
Madhya Pradesh has become a pioneer in the country in total food grains production. In year 2003-04, total food grains production was 2 crore 20 lakh 87 thousand MT in Madhya Pradesh, which is expected to exceed 3.86 crore MT this year.
Apart from production, Madhya Pradesh has also succeeded in increasing farm yield. Food grains’ yield in year 2003-04 was 1,177 kg per hectare, which is estimated to be 1614 kg per hectare in 2013-14. Wheat yield was 1,879 kg per hectare in year 2003-04, which is likely to be 2,602 kg per hectare this year.
During recent years, Madhya Pradesh has stood first by clocking the highest agriculture growth rate in the country. In year 2012-13, state’s agriculture growth rate was 20.16 percent. It was 19.85 percent in year 2011-12. According to advance estimates, agriculture growth rate in Madhya Pradesh is 24.99 percent in year 2013-14.
In yet another creditable achievement, Madhya Pradesh achieved 9.04 percent agriculture growth rate against the target of 2.5 per cent fixed for 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-11).
As compared to this agriculture growth’s national target was 4 percent against which only 2.5 percent was achieved.Madhya Pradesh is already pioneer in production of pulses, oilseeds and gram. As a result of these achievements, Madhya Pradesh has been conferred prestigious Krishi Karman Award for last 2 years in a row. The State has also bagged Agriculture leadership Award.
Side by side apprising farmers of better farming technique, they are also being provided good implements. A number of farmers have been sent on foreign tours to learn new techniques. Custom hiring centre scheme has been launched in Madhya Pradesh to make available benefit of costly agricultural machinery to farmers. They are also getting better equipments through Krishi Yantradoot Yojana.
Special schemes have been started for small and marginal farmers. Arrangements have been made for advance storage of fertilisers. Fertilisers have been imported and provided directly to farmers. For better coordination between agriculture and allied sectors, Agriculture Cabinet has been constituted whose decisions are considered cabinet decisions.
Special attention has been paid to increase irrigation facility. Novel scheme like Balram Talab has been launched for effective use of rainwater in farming.