MP aims for 20% agricultural growth

The primary reasons for high productivity are surplus availability of seeds and fertilisers

Though Madhya Pradesh boasts a handsome growth of 18 per cent in agriculture this year, poor access to irrigation for farmers remains a big challenge for the authorities of. Experts and insiders fear that besides warehousing issues, gradual fragmentation of land poses a major challenge for agriculture. The real estate industry and other big-ticket investors are fast consuming arable lands across the state. Pest attacks, heavy rains and inclement weather also pose problems.

“Inadequate irrigation infrastructure is the biggest challenge for us to attain the targeted growth, though we have a three-pronged agenda to attain 20 per cent growth this year,” admits D N Sharma, director, agriculture and adds, “Quality input has prompted farmers to retain farming as their prime business in the state.” Of the total 72 lakh farmers in the state, hardly 30 per cent have access to irrigation. The ones in the low-lying areas are the worst suffers.

 

Buoyed by the procurement of over 85 lakh tonnes of wheat, state is chalked out a strategy to overtake farming-dominated states like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. In fact, the growth rate, which held at 9 per cent pace during the last Plan, is expected by the authorities to cross 20 per cent. The the national average agriculture growth is 3 per cent.

The primary reasons for buoyancy in agricultural productivity are surplus availability of seeds and fertilisers.