MP may surpass Punjab in wheat production this year

State has already achieved 16.13 mn tonnes in FY13, hopes to cross 19 mn tonnes in current fiscal

Riding on a multi-pronged strategy to boost agriculture production, Madhya Pradesh is eyeing to surpass Punjab in wheat production this year.

Assured canal irrigation, covering fellow land under cultivation, warehousing and infrastructure, credit management, agriculture extension and technology, fertilizer supply management and above all regular electricity supply has already yielded 16.13 million tonnes of wheat during 2012-13. “We are expecting to produce nearly 19.2 million tonnes of wheat this year and if conditions remain favourable, we will be able to surpass Punjab this year,” Rajesh Rajora, principal secretary state farmer welfare and agriculture development department said.

Wheat production of the state has reached 16.13 million tonne from 6.74 million tonnes since 2007-2008.

Seed replacement rate has also played a major role in increasing wheat production in the state, during the past seven years. Seed replacement rates have gone up from 14 per cent to 25 per cent. Also, reduced interest rates (zero percent in case of short term agriculture loans) and an investment of Rs 7,052 crore for tariff subsidy has reduced input cost in wheat cultivation activities.

Central government has awarded the state with ‘Krishi Karman” award for maintaining double digit growth this year too. A farmer Gambhir Singh had received a yield of 74 quintal from one hectare in Banara village of Harda district two years back.

“Wheat yield stood at 2,959 kg per hectare during 2012-13 from 1,714 kg per hectare during 2007-2008,” Rajora said. State had distributed Rs 10,343 crore in year 2012-13 up 77 per cent compared to 2010-11 by reducing farm loan interest rates from 5 per cent to 1 per cent. Similarly, enough warehousing facility has also attracted farmers to the lucrative crop. The state capacity has increased.

According to the department, from 7.9 million metric tonnes in 2010-11 to 11.5 million metric tonnes in 2013-14. Farmers have sown wheat on 5.7 million hectares against 5.4 million hectares in the previous year. The highest growth of wheat production was achieved during 2011-12 when state wheat production touched 2,770 kg per hectare up from 2,073 during 2010-11.