Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav on Thursday urged farmers to move beyond traditional farming and embrace crop diversification, horticulture, dairy production and fisheries to increase their income and build a more resilient agricultural economy.

Addressing the Balram Krishi Mahotsav in Ashoknagar virtually from Samatva Bhavan at his official residence in Bhopal, Yadav said new technology and innovation had opened fresh avenues of prosperity for the farming community.

He said agriculture-related industries would create new opportunities for employment and economic growth, particularly for young people in rural areas. Farmers, he added, could substantially increase their earnings by combining crop production with dairy farming and fishery activities.

Ashoknagar farmers setting an example

CM Dr Yadav praised Ashoknagar’s farmers, saying their hard work was setting an example for cultivators across Madhya Pradesh.

He highlighted the district’s famous Chanderi sarees and its highly sought-after Sharbati wheat, whose distinctive taste has created demand across the country. He also welcomed the growing interest among local farmers in horticultural crops such as coriander and roses.

Despite challenges posed by inadequate rainfall, farmers in Ashoknagar have expanded the area under paddy cultivation using DRS technology, turning a difficult situation into an opportunity, he said.

Crop diversification has also led to an increase in the cultivation of gram and lentils in the district.

‘Farmers and soldiers equally committed to the nation’

Describing farmers as one of the four key groups alongside women, the poor and youth, CM Dr Yadav said the prosperity of farmers was essential for the well-being and food security of society as a whole.

“The role of a soldier on the border and a farmer in the field is equally important; both are dedicated to the nation,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the state government was working with sensitivity and determination to safeguard farmers’ interests. The entire year is being observed as Farmer Welfare Year, he added.

CM Dr Yadav said farming was synonymous with self-reliance, as farmers had the ability to feed not only their families but society at large.

More power, irrigation and better connectivity

The state government was working to make agriculture more profitable by improving electricity and water availability and providing road connectivity to farms, CM Dr Yadav said.

He added that farmers would receive four times the compensation for agricultural land acquired by the government. A system had also been introduced under which farmers could clear their accounts once a year for greater convenience.

The Chief Minister said several measures were being implemented to increase Madhya Pradesh’s share of milk production from 12% to 20%. Farmers would also receive adequate electricity during the daytime in the coming months, he said.

Subsidised electricity pumps of five, seven and 10 horsepower were being provided to farmers for irrigation, he added.

Government focus on the next generation

CM Dr Yadav said welfare initiatives, including the Ladli Behna Yojana and the Kisan Samman Nidhi, had helped improve the living standards of beneficiaries.

He said the government was also improving educational institutions, including Sandipani schools as well as primary and secondary schools, with the aim of securing better opportunities for the next generation of farmers.

“The state government is committed to protecting and nurturing the future generation of farmers,” CM Dr Yadav said.

The Chief Minister also extended greetings to farmers on the upcoming festivals, including Janmashtami, Balram Jayanti and Raksha Bandhan, and interacted virtually with farmers attending the Ashoknagar event.