THE VENUE WAS THE MARIOTT INDORE, IN THAT CITY.

The occasion was a conference on ‘Madhya Pradesh’s glorious agri-revolution’ which was jointly organised by Free Press Journal and Moneycontrol.com, in association with the state government of Madhya Pradesh. More than 500 people gathered to hear Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan. He was delivering his keynote address. In the packed conference hall, Chauhan discussed his achievements, his challenges and his possible plans for the state. But most interesting were the ambitious targets that he has set for himself and for the state’s farming community. Some of the key plans include:

• MECHANISM TO be developed to fix the crop rate, per hectare which will be above the existing minimum support price and price difference (Bhavantar) scheme of the state. This will help small and marginal farmers.

• IN ORDER to provide better farm prices to the farmers, Government of India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will set-up Agriculture Produce Export Board in the state.

• WITH AN aim to put an end to over production of a single crop, a system will be developed to guide farmers. This system will tell them which crop would be the best for the forthcoming sowing season depending on the area (soil conditions), climate and price trends. This will be done through a mobile app. Through these measures, MP will become the first state in the country in ensuring a doubling the farmers’ income by 2022.

• ABOUT 15 years ago, the irrigated farm area was just 7.5 lakh hectare, but now it has grown to 40 lakh hectare. In time to come, it will touch 80 lakh hectare.

• THE TARGET of 80 lakh hectare irrigated land will be made possible in part by the river-linking project. After NarmadaKshipra Link River link, NarmadaGambhir river link is under progress. The work of Narmada-Chambal River Link project will commence soon.

• FARMERS’ CHILDREN will be trained and given funds to set-up food processing units. The funds to be made available would range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Additional funds could also be made available in deserving cases. At present, the government plans to skill 30,000 youths under this initiative. The loans would be linked to subsidies, grants and interest subvention. This will help in value adding the farm produce at its very source.

• REGION SPECIFIC marketing of products will done. For instance, in case of Malwa, the products will be branded as ‘Malwa Fresh’.

• THE GOVERNMENT will offer difference in MSP in case farmers sells wheat even outside the market place (mandi).

• THE STATE will try to patent state specific varieties of basmati rice that is of high standard.