Taking a cue from Prime Minister's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to radio to reach out to farmers across the state in their hour of crisis following extensive damage to their crops due to erratic monsoon this year.
The Chief Minister appealed farmers "to be patient, not to lose hope and be courageous" to face difficulties while informing them that the government will be convening a special session of the State Assembly in the first week of November for getting House approval for disbursing enhanced relief to them.
Chouhan was responding to queries of farmers through a live phone-in programme at the All India Radio here yesterday.
The Chief Minister assured state government's full support to farmers.
He said that a year has been lost but all is not. The state government is taking every possible measure to help the farmers overcome the crisis, an official of the Public Relation Department said today.
Immediate steps have been taken to provide relief like distribution of aid, ensuring crop insurance amount, providing seeds and fertilizers for the rabi crop, zero per cent interest loans, helping farmers to organize marriage ceremony of daughters, deferring loan recovery, Chouhan said.
Giving credit to peasants for bringing glory to Madhya Pradesh, he said that it is due to their hard work that the state's agriculture growth rate continues to be average 20 per cent for the last four consecutive years.
The Chief Minister reiterated his resolve to make agriculture a profitable business. He said that irrigation is vital for the growth of farm sector. It has been increased to 36 lakh hectare and will soon be increased to 50 lakh hectare.
