Raipur, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gifted agricultural projects worth over Rs 41,000 crore to the farmers of the country from the main ceremony organized at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi today. On this occasion, he launched two new schemes – Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana and Dalhan Atmanirbhar Mission. These include Rs 30,000 crore for the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana and Rs 11,000 crore for the Dalhan Atmanirbhar Mission. Additionally, Shri Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for over 1100 projects related to Agriculture and Infrastructure Fund, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Food Processing sectors. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai witnessed the launch of this campaign today by joining online with thousands of farmers from the Krishi Sabhagar located in the Indira Gandhi Agricultural University campus in the state capital Raipur. On this occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, along with Chief Ministers, Agriculture Ministers, MPs, and MLAs from various states also joined virtually.
Prime Minister said that on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh, the country is creating a new history of agricultural self-reliance today. The two schemes launched today are the beginning of a new era of empowering the country’s अन्नदाताओं (food providers) and agricultural self-reliance. This initiative will prove to be a milestone in making agriculture profitable and modern. He informed that projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore are being initiated under the Dalhan Atmanirbhar Mission. The Prime Minister said that in the past years, India’s agricultural exports have increased, and there has been an increase in honey production, animal husbandry, fisheries, and allied agricultural activities.
The Prime Minister informed that significant improvements have been made in the fields of roads, electricity, health, and education through the focused Aspirational Districts Programme for districts lagging in development parameters. Similarly, under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, a special action plan will be prepared and implemented for 100 districts in the country that are backward in farming. He said that the income of farmers will increase and the rural economy will be strengthened through 36 new schemes. The Prime Minister said that with the participation of young farmers, the picture of agriculture will change, and the economic condition of farmers will become stronger.
The Prime Minister said that the Dalhan Atmanirbhar Mission has been launched with the objective of empowering farmers and the coming generations. This mission is not only a step towards self-reliance in agriculture but also an effort to ensure nutritional security in the country. Protein is extremely essential for physical and mental development, and for this, we must collectively establish a robust system for pulse production. He said that currently, India is not able to fully meet its pulse requirements. The Dalhan Atmanirbhar Mission will increase pulse production and directly benefit approximately two crore pulse-producing farmers.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that it is a matter of great happiness that three districts of Chhattisgarh – Jashpur, Korba, and Dantewada – have also been included in the two new schemes for the benefit of farmers. For this, I, on behalf of the three crore people of Chhattisgarh, express special gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He congratulated and extended best wishes to the farmers of the state for these two new schemes. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that these schemes will change the picture of farming and bring economic prosperity. On the occasion of the launch of the schemes, Chief Minister Shri Sai inspected the stalls set up by the Agriculture Department and handed over keys of tractors and agricultural equipment to farmers under the Agriculture Engineering Sub Mission Scheme and provided subsidy cheques.
Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the slogans of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan are resonating today. A major reform has happened in GST. After the GST reform, one day I went to a tractor showroom, and here I learned that a saving of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 is being made per tractor. The Chief Minister said that while visiting the stalls, I met a farmer brother here who bought a harvester, and he benefited from savings of over Rs 1 lakh. It is a matter of great joy to see that our farmer brothers are getting so much benefit.
Shri Sai informed that the government is continuously striving for the development of farmers in Chhattisgarh. Every promise made to the farmers has been fulfilled. Procurement of paddy at Rs 3100 per quintal and payment of dues for two years’ bonus have been made. He informed that our government, prioritizing farmers, has approved a lump sum of Rs 2800 crore for the repair of more than 1500 irrigation schemes in the state. The Chief Minister said that significant work was done to strengthen agricultural schemes during the government of Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Kisan Credit Card is the biggest example of this. The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh has mostly small farmers, and they have greatly benefited from the government’s farmer-friendly schemes. He said that the state government is continuously striving for the welfare of farmers, and this scheme is a concrete step in that direction.
Present at the program were Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation Shri Chandras Has Chandrakar, Chairman of Fishermen Welfare Board Shri Bharat Matiyara and Chairman of Cow Service Commission Shri Visheshwar Singh Patel, Chairman of District Panchayat Raipur Shri Naveen Agarwal, Member Shri Saurabh Saheb, Agricultural Production Commissioner Smt. Shahala Nigar, Raipur Collector Shri Gaurav Singh, Director of Agriculture Shri Rahul Dev, MD of State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation Shri Ajay Agarwal, Director of Horticulture Department Shri S. Jagdishan Rao, Director of Fisheries Department Shri Nag, along with many public representatives and farmers in large numbers.