The farmers of Madhya Pradesh will felicitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing the crop insurance scheme, during his visit to the state on February 18, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
Describing the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' as "best", Chouhan said, "Now farmers will get 25 per cent amount immediately."
Chouhan was addressing a function at his residence last evening to felicitate agriculturists at a farmers' convention on the conferment of 'Krishi Karman Award' to Madhya Pradesh for fourth time for its outstanding performance in food grain production.
He informed that farmers of the state will felicitate the Prime Minister during his visit to the state on February 18.
On the occasion, he also honoured field officers for extending cooperation to farmers in increasing farm production and productivity.
The convention was organised by Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development Department.
"Madhya Pradesh has won this award due to the hard work of farmers who produced good crops despite adverse conditions," the Chief Minister said.
On the suggestion of farmers, he announced to re-structure the 'Balram Talab Yojana'.
"A scheme will also be chalked out to take water of rivulets and nullahs to fields. It is a priority of the state government to irrigate every field," he said.
Meanwhile, Chouhan also announced that 1,000 progressive farmers will be sent to foreign countries to study modern farming systems and that a farmers' advisory board will also be constituted.
"The board will comprise progressive farmers of every crop to give advice to government to frame policies and strategies," he said.
Principal Secretary Agriculture Rajesh Rajora informed that the state has made unprecedented progress in agriculture during last one decade.
"Ten years ago, food grains production in the state was 123 lakh MT, which has gone up to 321 lakh MT now," he said.
The state is second in the country in wheat production, seventh in paddy production, fourth in maize and second in total food grains production.
Earlier, 46 lakh hectares were under irrigation, which has increased to 104 lakh hectares now, he added.
Officials from the state secretariat said the function to felicitate the PM is likely to be held in Sehore district.
