MP gets Krishi Karman award for highest agri growth

State had procured 8.5 million metric ton of wheat this year at minimum support price while mandis have reported 12 million metric ton arrival which indicates 10% increase in productivity over the pre

With highest growth in food grains state of Madhya Pradesh has claimed coveted 'Krishi Karman' award for the second consecutive year. State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan received the award from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Monday. Chouhan has been given a citation and a cash prize of Rs  2 crore.

Shashi Khandelwal of Chaurai village of Chhindwara district and Yogendra Kaushik of Badnagar of Ujjain district have posted highest output during the season 2012-13 and have been recognized as the most progressive farmers in any Indian state by the President.

Fast implementation of modern farm techniques have catapulted agriculture growth since 2007-08 thereby state productivity swelled from 12.89 million metric tonne to 27.7 million metric tonne in 2012-13.

Foodgrain production in the state has posted 11.2 per cent growth during the said year and significantly Madhya Pradesh has emerged as new wheat granny of India. The state has contributed 17.5 per cent to the total wheat production of India and also it has contributed 28.75 percent to the total production.

Last year two farmers in Raisen and Hoshangabad districts have posted 74 kg per hectare yield and have been awarded the Krishi Karman by the President. “Wheat production has gone up significantly from mere 6.7 million tonne to 16.1 million tonne since 2007 and is increasing, this year we are expecting 17-19 million tonne to surpass Punjab and move up to second position in wheat production in India,” a highly placed official in the government said.

The wheat productivity has also gone up from 1,714 kg per hectare to 2,959 kg per hectare. “Increase is significant since government has infused more capital investment in farm sector in creation of additional irrigation facility, modern farm techniques, increase seed replacement ration, fertilizer availability and above all zero percent interest rate farm loans for marginal and small farmers,” the official said.