By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Jeetu Patwari on Friday strongly criticised the State government’s claims of observing an “Agriculture Welfare Year”, alleging that farmers in the State continue to suffer due to unfulfilled promises, administrative lapses and underutilisation of funds meant for agricultural development.
Addressing a press conference at the State Congress office in Bhopal, Patwari said nearly 70 per cent of the population in Madhya Pradesh depends on agriculture, yet farmers have been “deceived with promises” by the BJP government for the past two decades. He remarked that former Chief Minister had repeatedly promised to make farming profitable and double farmers’ income, but in reality farmers’ debt and suicides had increased.
While targeting state government, Patwari alleged that the government had failed to deliver on three key assurances made to farmers during the elections, including procurement prices of Rs 6,000 per quintal for soybean, Rs 3,100 for paddy and Rs 2,700 for wheat.
He claimed that nearly 97 per cent of farmers in the State are currently burdened with debt and that about 60 per cent of posts in the Agriculture Department remain vacant, affecting the implementation of welfare schemes.
Patwari also questioned the utilisation of funds under Centrally sponsored schemes. He said that during the 2024–25 financial year, Rs 44,891.56 crore was earmarked, but only Rs 32,678.03 crore was released by the Centre and around 40 per cent of the received funds remained unspent.
He further alleged irregularities flagged in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report and claimed that several agriculture schemes had received zero allocation despite budgetary provisions.
