Madhya Pradesh is set for a comprehensive policy for promotion of organic method of farming through restoration of deteriorating soil health.
The central Indian state’s agriculture sector, which has been growing at an annual rate of 9% over the last three years and is expected to touch the double-digit mark, has emerged as the second biggest producer of wheat in the country and also the largest producer of soyabean.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan admits to the fact that it was due to the increase in the use of fertilisers and pesticides that an increase in the output of paddy, wheat and other crops could be achieved.
?We know that the present pattern of cultivation is not sustainable and we need to focus on the organic way, which takes care of soil health,? Chauhan told FE. He said the focus of the government is to empower farmers to take care of soil health through lesser use of pesticides and natural manure.
?We want to prepare our farmers against climate change so they are prepared to face the eventualities,? he said.
Madhya Pradesh is the country?s first state to form the agricultural cabinet for giving thrust to the core sector. The state agriculture cabinet, which has officials and ministers from various departments like agriculture, irrigation, power and animal husbandry, besides from cooperatives, in a recent meeting had approved a scheme titled kapil dhara to focus on restoring soil health through use of biomass generate by livestock.
?We have already seen this low-cost method of restoration of land through the use of waste generated by livestock in many patches, and we want to expand it further,? Chauhan said.
?We provide the cheapest agricultural credit to the farmers in this country,? Chauhan said. The state government charges only 1% interest from the farmers on the credit as the state government bears the additional 3% charge on the interest subvention scheme where central government provides loans, effectively at 4%.
The state is aggressively promoting wheat cultivation by various means like providing R100-a-quintal bonus besides the hike in the minimum support price (MSP) announced by the Centre. The state government is all set to procure 6.5 million tonne of wheat in the current rabi marketing season.