Raipur 6 December 2021
“Dream of Mahatma Gandhi
The Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel said that whatever be the circumstances, the Chhattisgarh government will stick to the decision taken in the interest of the farmers and villagers of the state. It is the priority of our government to make all sections of Chhattisgarh including farmers, villagers, tribals, women happy and self-reliant. Chief Minister Shri Baghel said that many hurdles including procurement of paddy on support price, supply of gunny bags, custom milling are being deliberately created by the Central Government, yet we will not let the farmers’ interest come under threat and support paddy in the state. Price will continue to be purchased. Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel was addressing a Kisan Sammelan and Samman ceremony organized at a private hotel in the capital Raipur today. Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey, Advisor to Chief Minister Shri Pradeep Sharma were specially present on this occasion.
Accordingly, Suraji village is being established in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel further said that, in a few days, three years of his government will be completed. We have completed this journey together with people from every section and community of Chhattisgarh. He said that his government has won the trust of the people. Along with loan waiver of farmers, waiver of irrigation tax, they are continuously buying paddy on support price as per their promise. The Chief Minister said that 35 kg rice is being distributed every month to 65 lakh families in the state of Chhattisgarh at Re 1 per kg. At the same time, the collection rate of Tendu leaves collectors is being increased from Rs.25 hundred to Rs.4,000 per standard bag. Every year Rs 600 crore is being paid to the tendu patta collectors in the state. We have also increased the purchase of minor forest produce from 7 to 52, Along with this, its value addition is also being done. At the beginning of the program, the Chief Minister inaugurated the farmers’ conference and felicitation ceremony by lighting the lamp.
The Chief Minister said that we have started Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana to provide farmers the right price for their produce, increase crop productivity and encourage crop diversification. Under this, input assistance is being provided to the farmers. In this scheme, we have included all Kharif crops as well as horticulture crops and plantation. Farmers of Kharif marketing year 2020-21 have been paid three installments under this scheme, the fourth installment will be paid by March. Referring to the payment made to farmers as the third installment on November 1, just before Diwali, the Chief Minister said that in Chhattisgarh, farmers, villagers, laborers as well as traders had a good Diwali.
Referring to the demand of 5.25 lakh bales of gunny bags from the Government of India for the purchase of paddy by the state of Chhattisgarh, the Chief Minister said that till now the state has not been able to get even one lakh bales of gunny bags. Despite this, we started buying paddy and we are arranging gunny bags through farmer brothers, rice millers and PDS shops. Chief Minister Shri Baghel said that this year the Central Government has refused to take that rice from the state of Chhattisgarh. This decision of the Central Government is not right in favor of farmers, millers and laborers of Chhattisgarh. This will interfere with the disposal of paddy. The Chief Minister said that last year we had procured 92 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. This year one crore five lakh metric tonnes of paddy is expected to be procured. The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is the only state in the country where we have made arrangements for purchase of Kodo-Kutki and Ragi on support price. Its support price has been declared by the state government.
The Chief Minister further said that Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, had said that India lives in villages. As per his dream of village swaraj, we are establishing Suraji village in Chhattisgarh through Narva, Garuva, Ghurva, Bari program. He said that 7777 Gauthans have been established in the village for the service and protection of Gau Mata. In these Gauthans, cow dung is being purchased for Rs.2 a kg. So far, by purchasing 57 lakh quintals of cow dung, we have paid Rs 114 crore to the cattle rearing farmers and villagers. The sisters of our women’s group are making vermi compost and super compost from cow dung in the Gauthans. He said that there was an outcry in the whole country due to the shortage of DAP fertilizer, the Central Government did not supply enough DAP to the state of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh could get only 70 percent of the DAP as per the demand,
Looking at it, it is anticipated that in the coming time, its prices will increase and there will be a decrease in supply. He said that the Government of India is completely silent about the lack of DAP. The Chief Minister said that due to non-availability of DAP to the farmers, there would be a decrease in the production of food grains and its effect would be on the economy of the country. He said that we will meet the shortage of DAP in the state of Chhattisgarh with vermi compost and super compost. On this occasion, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel also mentioned the appeal of farmers to donate para for the arrangement of fodder for livestock in Gauthans and said that this has put a stop to stubble burning in the state. Sufficient fodder for livestock has started to be collected in the Gauthans. The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh State has linked this innovative program of service of Gau Mata with rural economy and employment. People have started earning extra income by selling cow dung.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister rewarded and honored the advanced farmers of the state and self-help groups who have done remarkable work in the field of agriculture and allied production and business. On this occasion Agriculture Production Commissioner Dr. Kamalpreet Singh, Managing Director of Godhan Nyay Mission Dr. S. Bharathidasan, Director Agriculture Shri Yashwant Kumar, Public Relations Commissioner Shri Dipanshu Kabra, Senior Journalist Shri Prabhu Chawla and other officials and a large number of farmers were present.
