Major increase in farm productivity

  • 20/02/2008

  • Central Chronicle

Due to efforts undertaken by Madhya Pradesh government, 148-kg per hectare increase has been registered in farm productivity in the state during the last four years. For this, the state government provided better agricultural resources to farmers including certified and better seeds which proved to be the most important factor. In the wake of steps taken by the state government, the rate of farmers using better seeds for their wheat and soyabean crops instead of sub-standard seeds has increased considerably. During the last four year, the rate of using good seeds for wheat crop has gone up by 6.28 percent while in the case of soyabean crop 10 to 15 percent increase has been registered. For the first time in country, Madhya Pradesh government set up a Seed Producing Cooperative Federation for providing better seeds to farmers. During the very first year the Federation through its cooperative societies produced record number of seeds. The state government has chalked out a separate scheme for different districts for providing hybrid seeds. A decision has been taken to provide Rs 500 instead of Rs 300 of grant to the seed producing cooperative societies. Mukhya Mantri Mazdoor Suraksha Yojana has provided opportunity of leading better life to 74 lakh landless labourers who were toiling hard without any social security since ages. Under this scheme, economic, social and every kind of security has been provided to the families of landless labourers. Similarly, minimum wages of farm labourers working in unorganised sector have been increased from Rs 17 per day to Rs 67 per day. Recently, the Chief Minister announced 50 percent grant on bullock cart. During the last four years special training programmes have been launched to make farmers well-versed in modern techniques of farming. Through Kisan Rath scheme, farmers of remote areas in the nook and corner of the state were approached and imparted expert training. Through Kisan Rath direct dialogue was made with five lakh 59 thousand 227 farmers. Through Agrinet, every development block was connected with computer. Apart from important decision of constituting Farmers Commission, the state government formed Kisan Manch at Panchayat level. Patwari Halka was made the unit of crop insurance scheme instead of Tehsil which gave unprecedented relief to farmers. This was fulfillment of long-pending demand by the farmers. The parameters for assessing drought were liberalised. Now a provision has been made to declare drought on the basis of sowing area during Rabi crop till September-end rains. Number of villages' clusters has also been increased from 10 to 20. Mandis have been modernised and well-equipped so that farmers can get better prices for their produce. Electronic scales have been installed at A and B grade Mandis. In the first phase 64 Mandis, divisional offices and Board headquarter have been interconnected with computers. Mandis are being developed as Modern Farm Produce Marketing Centres. During these four years, one more important step has been taken for transporting farm produce to markets and that step was 'Agri Business Meet' at which Rs 7000 crore investment proposals in the agricultural sector were received.