Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that a new roadmap for the State’s agriculture growth will be chalked out in the first week of November. An ideal model of farming will be evolved for marginal farmers of the State, laying stress on making agriculture profitable.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Krishi Manthan programme at the Academy of Administration here on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that climate change has become a major challenge to farmers. Diversity of crops has come to an end. Farmers are facing natural calamities for the last four years. Their financial condition worsens due to crop loss and they are caught in the vicious circle of loans. It is big challenge to deal with it. Farm input costs have also increased. Fertilizers are being used wantonly for more yield due to which soil fertility is eroding. There is also the challenge of making available certified pesticides and seeds, Chouhan said.
The Chief Minister said that marginal farmers will survive only when an ideal model of farming is chalked out for them. The farmers should be provided fair prices of their produce. Their financial condition cannot be improved only through agriculture. They should be associated with alternative income-generating activity along with farming.
He said the farmers should also be trained in other sectors. Agriculture department staff, agriculture science centres, agriculture universities and farmers should work as one unit. Better system for water utilization should be evolved. Economically viable module of animal husbandry should be evolved.
He said that production of food grains in the State has doubled during the last 10 years. The State's 24 percent agriculture growth rate is the maximum in the country. Constant efforts are being made to make agriculture profitable in the State. Farmers have been provided loans on zero percent interest. He said that a long-term agriculture policy will be chalked out.
Agriculture Minister Gaurishankar Bisen said that Madhya Pradesh has achieved unprecedented success in agriculture sector. Agriculture Cabinet has taken focused decision. The Government is tackling challenges of climate change and caterpillar menace. He said that district level agriculture plans should be chalked out. Species of crops conducive to weather should be developed.
Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa threw light on the outlines of the programme. He said that food grains production in Madhya Pradesh has doubled in 10 years. The State produced 450 lakh MT food grains last year. National and international level agriculture experts are taking part in the programme.
Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya, Revenue Minister Rampal Singh, Chairman of State Farmers Commission Bansilal Gurjar, members of the Task Force Gyandendra Singh, Ashok Gulati and Shri Punjab Singh, scientists, farmers, bankers and officers attended the programme.