Madhya Pradesh Government to Launch 'Krishak Kalyan Mission' for Farmers' Welfare and Agricultural Growth

In a major step toward increasing farmers' income and ensuring their holistic empowerment, the Madhya Pradesh government is set to launch the Madhya Pradesh Krishak Kalyan Mission. State Minister for Farmers' Welfare and Agriculture Development, Mr. Eddal Singh Kanshana, announced that the framework of the mission has been finalized and received approval in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Tuesday.

Minister Kanshana stated that the mission will be a milestone in the overall welfare of farmers and their families. Prior to this, the state government had already launched missions for youth, women empowerment, and welfare of the underprivileged. The Chief Minister will serve as the Chairperson of the General Body of the mission, while the Chief Secretary will head the Executive Committee. At the district level, the mission will be implemented under the leadership of the District Collector.

A Unified Platform for All Farmer Welfare Initiatives:

The minister emphasized that, in alignment with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government will leave no stone unturned in working for the welfare of farmers, youth, women, and the poor. The Krishak Kalyan Mission will serve as a unified platform for all agriculture-related schemes and initiatives, ensuring coordinated and integrated progress.

Core Objectives of the Mission:

1. The primary aim of the Madhya Pradesh Krishak Kalyan Mission is to increase farmers’ income and make agriculture more climate-resilient. Key focus areas include:
2. Promotion of sustainable farming practices
3. Conservation of biodiversity and traditional agricultural knowledge
4. Ensuring nutritional and food security
5. Securing fair prices for agricultural produce

Key Departments Involved: The mission will see the active participation of various departments including Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Processing, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Cooperatives, Food Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection.

Major Long-Term Goals:

1. Minister Kanshana outlined several long-term targets of the mission:
2. Achieve higher Gross Value Added (GVA) from horticultural crops than from traditional crops
3. Increase agricultural mechanization by 1.5 times
4. Raise agricultural investment by 75%
5. Make the state free from stubble burning
6. Bring 10% of total sown area under organic/natural/GAP-certified farming
7. Expand micro-irrigation coverage to 20% of agricultural land
8. Increase crop insurance coverage to 50% of farmers

Energy Empowerment for Farmers:

1. Extend the use of advanced and hybrid seeds to 50% of sown area
2. Empower farmers as energy producers
3. Provide subsidized solar pumps
4. Enable farmers to sell excess electricity back to the grid and earn revenue
5. Offer solar pumps to farmers with temporary power connections

Boosting Value Addition and Market Access:

1. Establish new food processing units
2. Expand marketing networks and access to external markets
3. Modernize 100 agricultural markets (mandis)
4. Work towards self-sufficiency in fish seed production