Raipur, 17 August 2023
The thing on which the economy and social prosperity of Chhattisgarh depends the most are the paddy producing farmers. A few years ago, farmers started moving away from paddy due to weak support price, huge amount of debt and lack of incentives. Moving away from paddy crop means moving away from farming itself because this is the traditional crop in our country. This is the reason that in the year 2018, only 15 lakh farmers sold their paddy at the support price.
The way the farmers were getting disinterested with the paddy crop and farming was becoming a deal of loss to the farmers. There was a growing apprehension that most of the marginal farmers would give up farming and migrate to the cities for employment. What an irony it would have been if the farmer of the state which is known as the rice bowl did not have a sickle in his hands.
The mood of the farmers changed as soon as Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel took oath. It was not expected that someone fulfills such a big promise in a day. Loans worth crores of rupees were waived. Then the Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana was brought, through which input subsidy of Rs 20 thousand crores reached the farmers, but every year something good comes out of the Chief Minister’s box for the farmers. This time he increased the paddy purchase limit from 15 quintals to 20 quintals.
Now with the announcement of purchasing 20 quintals of paddy per acre from the farmers of the state, the dream of buying each grain of paddy will come true. While the area under cultivation has increased in these years, there has also been an increase in agricultural production. Whether it is a matter of handing over about 5 thousand acres of land acquired from more than 1700 farmers in the past for the steel plant in Lohandiguda area of Bastar district and making them the owner of the land or from February 3, 2022, ‘Rajiv Gandhi Rural Landless Agricultural Laborer Justice’ Through the scheme, 4 lakh 66 thousand rural landless agricultural laborers should get financial help of Rs. 7 thousand per year, the Chief Minister has increased the strength of all farmers and agricultural laborers.
The area under cultivation is increasing due to the encouraging policies of the government. Farmers are returning to farming. Paddy production has increased. As a result of this, at present Kharif crop is being taken in more than 32 lakh hectares in the state. Most of the paddy crop is taken in Kharif. Systematic procurement of paddy crops is done by the state government. This year also the procurement of paddy on the support price will start from November 1. The state government has set a target of procuring about 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy.
Paddy was purchased at the support price and the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana encouraged the farmers of the state. Those farmers who had given up farming, those farmers also turned towards farming and despite tough challenges, a record paddy of over 107 lakh metric tonnes was procured last year from about 24 lakh farmers. Seeing the enthusiasm and success of the farmers, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel has doubled the enthusiasm of the farmers with the purchase of paddy from November 1 as well as the announcement of buying 20 quintals per acre of paddy from the farmers.
The registered paddy area in the state in the year 2018-19, which was 25.60 lakh hectare, has increased to 32.19 lakh hectare today. In these four years, the number of registered farmers has increased from 16.92 lakh to 25.12 lakh. Kharif Marketing 80.30 Lakh MT in the year 2018-19, 83.94 Lakh MT in the year 2019-20, 92.06 Lakh MT in 2020-21, 98 Lakh MT in the year 2021-22 and record record 107.53 Lakh in the year 2022-23 Metric ton paddy was procured. Farmers are excited about the estimated purchase of 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers this year.
In order to improve the financial condition of the farmers, the Government of Chhattisgarh waived short-term agricultural loan of about Rs 10,000 crore on about 18,82,000 farmers in the year 2018, while the waiver of irrigation tax of Rs 244.18 crore has also helped in the development of agriculture and farmers. Din Bahurane played an important role. In the last four years, an amount of more than one and a half lakh crore rupees has been deposited in the pockets of farmers, laborers and the poor through various means. The result of this was that while there was an economic recession in the country during the Corona crisis, it did not have any effect in Chhattisgarh.
In Chhattisgarh, the decision to provide input subsidy under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana along with loan from the cooperative society for agriculture and farming at zero percent interest to the farmers and purchase of paddy at the support price proved to be revolutionary. Along with this, a grant of one lakh per pump is being given for the energization of agricultural pumps, for the purpose of providing financial relief to the farmers, under the Krishak Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, farmers will get 6000 units per electricity bill of agricultural pumps up to 3 HP. Farming is being done with double enthusiasm by giving 7500 units per year exemption in the electricity bill of agricultural pump of 3 to 5 HP and electricity at flat rate rate to the farmers and free electricity supply to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers. This has resulted in increase in production as well as increase in income.
Apart from providing fair price to the farmers for the support price, they are also being given the benefit of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana in the form of input subsidy. Under this scheme, Rs 9,000 to the farmers taking paddy crop and Rs 10,000 input subsidy to the farmers taking kharif crops other than paddy and interest free loan system, the farming-farmers were supported and the farmers who left farming-farmers This is a good news for both the state and the farmers.
A new model of development was adopted in Chhattisgarh keeping inclusive development as a priority. Where justice schemes have been started for the development of all classes. This is a commendable step in the interest of farmers. In this model, the main focus is on the rural economy. Paddy is cultivated in about 32 lakh hectares in the state. More than 2500 paddy purchase centers have been set up in the state to buy paddy at the support price. The entire system of paddy procurement has been computerized. Through this system, farmers get the amount of paddy purchase online. To facilitate the farmers in selling paddy, a mobile app ‘Token Tunhar Haath’ was also adopted. Due to this, farmers did not face difficulties in selling paddy, this is also a major reason for attracting farmers towards farming.
With the Chhattisgarh model, agriculture is turning into a profitable business in the state. In this model, along with input subsidy, farmers are being provided electricity at a cheap rate and loan for farming at zero percent interest. Apart from this, the allied industries of agriculture are also being promoted in this model. Fisheries and lac production have been given the status of agriculture. Farmers engaged in fisheries and lac production are getting the same facilities as agriculture.
The government is paying special attention to the challenges of climate change. Attention is also being given to increase the income of the farmers. Farmers are being given the benefit of solar dual pumps and small-marginal farmers are being given the benefits of community solar irrigation projects. Farmers living in Vananchal are also getting the benefit of irrigation facilities. In order to increase the income of the farmers in the general area, solar dual pumps are being given on subsidy. Initiative has also been taken for new employment opportunities in the villages. Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park (RIPA) is being developed in Gauthan. About 300 new RIPAs have been started in the state in the first phase. Out of these, new employment opportunities are being given to the rural youth. This is the reason why unemployment in Chhattisgarh is the lowest in the country.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, the state government took many decisions related to the public concern considering the heart of the hardworking farmers, laborers and poor of the state. It was decided to buy paddy from all big and small farmers at the support price and give benefits of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana. He thought about the rural landless agricultural laborers and worked to put money in the pockets of the poor and laborers by bringing the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Landless Agricultural Laborers Justice Scheme. The result of these policies is that year after year a new record of paddy procurement is being created. Not only this, the number of registered farmers and area is also increasing year by year.
The rice bowl is full. It’s overflowing People’s happiness is overflowing with this. When a chief is sensitive and connected to the ground, then his concerns are also grounded. The model of agricultural development that has been brought in Chhattisgarh has very deep roots and this will help in fulfilling the dream of Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh.
