New Delhi: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and informed him about the situation arising out of bumper crop production in the State. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Thawar Chand Gehlot. Chouhan informed that special efforts were undertaken in the state to increase production of pulses. Consequently the state has witnessed bumper crop of pulses. This matter of joy has however become a source of problem also. Bumper harvest has caused sharp decline in market prices due to which farmers are unable to fetch appropriate rate for their produce. To overcome this situation, the state government has started the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana.
Through this scheme the government deposits the difference between the market rate and minimum support price directly into the bank accounts of farmers. Chouhan informed that the state government has spent Rs 1700 crore under the scheme. The Union Government has not released its 50 per cent share of the scheme. Under this situation, the state government has recently decided to procure gram, lentils and mustard at minimum support price under the Price Support Scheme so that the farmers get fair price for their produce.
Chouhan requested the Union Agriculture Minister that gram, lentils and mustard be procured at minimum support price from the 10th April to 31st May 2018 through NAFED. He also requested that the credit limit of NAFED be increased from Rs 19,000 crores. Chouhan also urged for appointment of surveyors by the central government at 257 agriculture mandis in the state. In view of bumper harvest, Chouhan also urged the Union Minister to raise the cap of 25 quintal per day sale limit per farmer. He also appealed for immediate payment of 90 per cent of procured crops. Chouhan also requested that the existing limit of ware housing in godowns be increased from 30 km to 80 km for gram, lentils and mustard.
Chouhan also expressed his anguish against rejection of GI Tag to Basmati produced in Madhya Pradesh. Union Ministers Tomar and Gehlot also supported Chouhan and told that rice produced in 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh has been known as Basmati for the last 108 years. It has its own identity in the world and in this respect ICAR has been given a complete report by the state presenting historical, factual and technical points emphasizing that rice produced in these 13 districts is in fact Basmati.
The Chief Minister and the two Union Ministers requested the Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh to take prompt decision in this matter and do justice to the farmers of Madhya Pradesh.