President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday conferred ‘Krishi Karman Award’ for the year 2012-13 upon Chhattisgarh for the best performance in paddy production.
Chhattisgarh has been presented with the award for the second time. On behalf of Chief Minister Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal received the award from the President at a function held in Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Union Environment Minister Veerappa Moily, CMs of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Orissa and Manipur, agriculture scientists and agriculture experts from various countries also attended the function.
Agrawal said paddy production in the State has registered 71 per cent increase, which is an indicator of growth. In 2011, paddy production in the State was 1751 kg per hectare which has increased to 2041 kg per hectare in 2012-13. The President also presented ‘progressive farmers’ award to two farmers-Sushila Gabhel of Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Chhapa district and Bholaram Sahu of Dhamtari district- for highest production of paddy in the year 2013.
Chhattisgarh Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner Ajay Singh, Director (Agriculture) P R Kridutt and former agriculture Minister of Chhattisgarh Chandrashekhar Sahu were also present at the function. Agrawal gave the credit of this achievement to the lakhs of hardworking farmers. He said Chhattisgarh Government has taken various initiatives for farmers which includes procurement of every single grain of paddy, best management of complete food-supply-chain (from agriculture production, procurement to distribution), hassle-free cheque payment of Rs 43,000 crore to farmers for paddy procurement in last 10 years.
Agriculture Minister Agrawal further informed that the State Government in its budget 2014-15 has made a provision of Rs 8,459 crore for agriculture and various other sectors linked to it. Out of which, Rs 4,102 crore would be spent on agriculture and horticulture. Farmers in the State will now be given interest-free loan. Earlier, loan was provided to farmers on one per cent interest. The budget also has the provision of bonus of Rs 300 per quintal on paddy. So far, farmers have been getting 7,500 unit of electricity free-of-cost for irrigation pumps of five horse power, he said, adding that all these initiatives contributed to record procurement of 71 lakh MT last year.