- Encouragement for Tur (Pigeon Pea) Farmers with Quality Seeds, Fertilizers and Productivity Support
- Directives for Visits to All Mandis by Officials; Emphasis on Better Management
- CM Reviews Activities of the Department of Farmers Welfare and Agricultural Development
Bhopal, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav stated that the government is committed to promoting the production of Shree Anna crops such as ragi, kodo-kutki, jowar, bajra, and maize in Madhya Pradesh. He announced that the government will now procure Shree Anna directly from farmers. He further directed that tur (pigeon pea) farmers should be supported with quality seeds, fertilizers, and productivity-enhancing measures. Innovations such as crop subsidies and crop insurance should also be considered to benefit farmers.
Dr. Yadav was addressing a review meeting of the Farmers’ Welfare and Agricultural Development Department at the Mantralaya on Friday. The meeting was attended by Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Shri Edal Singh Kansana, Chief Secretary Shri Anurag Jain, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Rajesh Rajora, Additional Chief Secretary for Cooperation Shri Ashok Barnwal, Agriculture Secretary Shri M. Selvendram, and other departmental officers.
Focus on Establishing New Mandis for Fruits, Vegetables, and Spices
The Chief Minister instructed senior departmental officials to conduct surprise inspections of all mandis (agricultural markets) across the state and to ensure their efficient management. He emphasized the need to adapt to changing demands by setting up crop-specific mandis and to consider establishing mandis for fruits, vegetables, and spices alongside existing agricultural mandis. A roadmap should be prepared for this initiative, potentially involving the private sector.
Dr. Yadav added that mandi revenues should be used for farmer welfare activities and that all mandis should strive for self-reliance in their development projects. Coordination with local bodies should be established to develop new mandis and increase storage capacity so that farmers have better options to sell their produce.
Make Agricultural Mandis a Model of Excellence
The Chief Minister stressed that mandis in Madhya Pradesh should be transformed into model markets with all necessary agriculture-related facilities. Farmers must not face any inconvenience in selling their crops and should receive fair prices. Efforts should also be made to educate farmers on quality enhancement of their produce. Modernization of mandis should be a priority.
Encouragement for Farmers
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav emphasized that every possible effort should be made to boost crop production in the state. He said farmers should be encouraged to adopt advanced agricultural practices by promoting the use of high-quality seeds, modern farming equipment, better market prices, and subsidies in place of chemical fertilizers. He particularly stressed the need to promote Shree Anna crops such as ragi, kodo-kutki, maize, jowar, and bajra. Farmers in regions cultivating these crops should be incentivized to achieve higher yields, and the subsidy amount should be increased as needed.
Discourage Farmers Using Weedicides in Summer Moong
Dr. Yadav advocated discouraging the use of herbicides in summer moong (green gram) crops, citing health concerns. He directed that natural and organic farming should be promoted across the state, with special emphasis on cultivating indigenous and traditional crops.
Agriculture Industry Summits to Yield Tangible Results for Farmers
The Chief Minister announced that agriculture fairs and summits will be organized in every division of the state, with a focus on investment in agriculture-based industries. Referring to the recent Agri-Industry Conclave held in Sitamau (Mandsaur district), he said that its learnings should guide future events to ensure better outcomes for farmers.
He also directed efforts to discourage stubble burning and promote the use of Happy Seeder agricultural implements. Instructions were given to provide support for agri-machinery and ensure availability of Happy Seeder machines in every gram panchayat.
Three Crops to Receive GI Tags Soon
The Agriculture Secretary informed the meeting that three crops from Madhya Pradesh are expected to receive Geographical Indication (GI) tags soon: Nagdaman Makutki and Sitahi Kutki from Dindori district, and the Purple Tur variety. Additionally, with the implementation of the e-Anugya (e-permit) system, the e-Mandi scheme has now been extended to all 259 mandis in the state from 1 April 2025, enabling fully digital record-keeping.
Major Agriculture Industry Summit to Be Held in Narsinghpur
The Agriculture Secretary announced that a major agriculture-based industry summit and mega agricultural fair will be organized in Narsinghpur from 26 to 28 May. The event will provide insights into agri-industries, dairy and fishery production, horticulture, Shree Anna cultivation, and modern farming techniques, including exhibitions and booking of advanced farm machinery. Start-up innovations in agriculture will also be showcased.
Following this, another large agricultural fair and farmers’ conference is scheduled to be held in Satna from 8 to 10 June 2025.
