Bharatiya Kisan Sangh’s agitation postponed

Bhopal: Following a discussion with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shivkant Dixit of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh announced that the agitation has been postponed as the government has agreed to all their conditions.

Soon after discussion with the Bharatiya Kisan Snagh, Chief Minister Chouhan announced that farmers will now acquire 50% RTGS and cash payment of 50 per cent of the products they sell in Krishi Upaj Mandi. Government will purchase moong summer crop on support price and onions from farmers at Rs 8 per kg. This purchase will begin in 3-4 days and will continue till the end of June.

CM Chouhan said that farmers have to give more commission in sabji mandis. To put an end to this practice, sabji mandis will also be brought under Mandi Act. Crop insurance scheme will be made optional. Anti-farmer provisions in Nagar and Gram Nivesh Act will be removed. The Chief Minister announced that cases registered against farmers during this agitation will be withdrawn.

CM Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh government is a pro-farmer government. Madhya Pradesh government is the first government that has arranged to give agriculture loans at zero per cent interest that was earlier given to farmers at 16-17 per cent interest rate. Not only this, the government has also made arrangements for farmers who take an agricultural loan of Rs one lakh will now have to repay only Rs 90,000. Chief Minister Chouhan said that not only has the decision to give agricultural loan without interest but the decisions taken by the state government in the last 11 years in favour of farmers and farming should set an example not only in the country but the whole world. The fact that the state has received Krishi Karman Award five times is sufficient proof for this.

Madhya Pradesh has made remarkable progress in agriculture sector in the last 11 years. The state’s agriculture development rate was 4.3 per cent in the year 2004-05. Today this rate is more than 20 percent which is the maximum in the country and the world. The state’s share in the country’s total food grain production in the year 2004-05 was 7.1 per cent which has now increased to 13.5 per cent. This is nearly double. The annual growth rate of state’s grain production in the last 11 years has been nearly 12 per cent.

Chief Minister Chouhan told that the state’s progress in the agriculture sector has been possible due to the significant reforms, well-thought decisions of the state government and hard work of farmers. It has been ensured in the state that there should better coordination between the cooperative, water resources, dairy, animal husbandry, agriculture and horticulture departments. For this the country’s first Krishi Cabinet was formed in the state.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that government’s efforts like interim storage of fertilizers, Khet talab yojana, Mukhya Mantri Khet Teerth Yojana, Haldhar Yojana, Mera Khet Meri Mati Yojana, Food Processing, scheme for maximum grant and promotion to promote agriculture mechanization in the country, successful implementation of crop insurance and fish farming to help agriculture, animal husbandry, promoting horticulture crops, sericulture, bamboo production, Laakh production, purchase of wheat and other food grains by giving additional bonus on support price have always been pro-farmers.

CM Chouhan said that state government has not only included the decision to make farming beneficial in its top priority but has also worked for it. Chouhan said that today nearly 40 lakh hectare has irrigation facility which was hardly 7.5 lakh hectare about 10-12 years back. This became possible only with the effective campaign to complete under construction irrigation projects. State government promoted efforts of construction of canals, water conservation and collection at micro level. He said that Madhya Pradesh is among those 2-3 states in the country which has ensured availability of minimum 10-hour power supply for farming.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh is an agriculture-dominated state. I am myself a farmer’s son. I know what are the problems of farming and farmers. I have made every possible effort for solving these problems. The efforts of the government have been appreciated in the country and the world. The state has bagged the Agriculture Leadership Award.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh gives the maximum short term and mid-term loans in the country according to the number of its farmers. The state is leading in distribution of Kisan Credit Card and Soil Health Card also. He said that on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal not only was the roadmap to double the income of farmers by the year 2022 was prepared first but it was also complied with.

The Chief Minister said that expansion of agriculture sector, publicity of advanced seeds, publicity of advanced agriculture techniques, formation of farmer producer companies, expansion of horticulture sector, expansion of bio-farming, disaster management in agriculture sector, strengthening of agriculture marketing are such effective and progressive steps of the state government that have been taken in best interest of farmers.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh was the only state in the country for purchasing onions on support price last year. He said that after today’s discussion Madhya Pradesh government is eager to solve the problems of farmers on priority basis. He said that even now he could not believe that farmers of the state threw crops and spilled milk on the road. This was an effort of some persons with selfish interest under the guise of farmers and pashupalak.

CM Chouhan said that with the combined efforts of the government and farmers’ today Madhya Pradesh farmers have left Punjab and Haryana farmers far behind in wheat production. Today Madhya Pradesh is the third largest state in India in food grain production. The agriculture square feet of the state has risen by 53 per cent in the last 11 years. In the same period, the state’s irrigated area has risen to 110 lakh hectare from 46.31 lakh hectare. The Chief Minister said that his government is a farmers’ government and will always be. State government can never tolerate financial loss of farmers.

The Chief Minister said that the growth rate of milk production in the year 2015-16 has been 12.70 per cent whereas the country’s milk production growth rate was 6.27 per cent. In this period the availability of milk per person has been 428 gram which is more than the national average of 337. The Chief Minister said that today the state is at that juncture of development in which we have to solve problems together and move ahead. By ending their agitation today the Kisan Sangh has honoured my sentiments.-WTN