MP increases agri production by 15% in 2015: Minister

Madhya Pradesh, which produces 40 per cent organic produce of the country, has increased its agriculture production by 15 per cent in 2015 as against 2014, Agriculture Minister Gaurshanker Bisen said today.
Agriculture production was 4.50 crore metric tonnes (MT) in 2015 in comparison to 3.60 crore MT in 2014, he said releasing the agriculture produce figure for the last year.
Production of foodgrains has also increased by 30 per cent. It was 2.22 crore MT in 2014, which increased to 3.21 crore MT last year, he added.
Bisen informed that pulses production has increased by 20 per cent.
"It (pulses production) was 38.20 lakh MT in 2014, which has increased to 47.48 lakh MT. Similarly, about one lakh MT increase has been recorded in oilseed production.

Wheat and paddy production has increased by 5 per cent, maize 10 per cent and mustard production has increased by 4 per cent", he added.

"In the state, organic farming area was 1.60 lakh hectares, which has grown by about 10 times to 17.58 lakh hectares in 2015. Madhya Pradesh enjoys the distinction of producing 40 per cent organic farm produce of India", the minister said.
Bisen informed that soybean sowing operations with ridge and furrow method were undertaken in 36 lakh hectares in the state last year.
He said that 992 lakh SMSes were sent for timely advice to farmers last year.

Krishi Mahotsav was celebrated from May 25 to June 15 to make farmers aware and distribute agricultural implements to them.
During this (2015) period, Kisan Rath-Yatras, special camps, agriculture symposiums were held in all development blocks and state level farmers' fair and exhibition was organised, Bisen said.
During Mahotsav, over 2.50 lakh agriculture kits and 6.75 lakh horticulture kits were distributed, he added.
At special camps, 2.50 lakh animals were vaccinated, 900 new milk producing societies formed, about 3 lakh Kisan Credit Cards, 90 lakh Khata-Khatauni and 1,40,000 loan-books were distributed, Bisen said.
According to the Minister for Horticulture and Forestry, 50,000 saplings were provided and during Mahotsav, farmers donated 5,049 quintal foodgrains for special diet for anganwadis.