Latest news with #AgricultureandFarmers'WelfareandRuralDevelopment
India Gazette
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Union Agriculture Minister announces approximately Rs 6,262 crore for MNREGA for Madhya Pradesh this year
Sehore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], June 7 (ANI): Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various development works worth crores of rupees in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said in a release. As per the release, on this occasion, Chouhan said that for the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), Madhya Pradesh will receive approximately Rs 6,262 crore this year. Chouhan called upon everyone to actively participate in development initiatives and said, 'We will leave no stone unturned to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The development of villages and the nation is only possible with the support and cooperation of the people. The development of the country depends on the development of its villages.' Chouhan added that consistent work is being done to bring Narmada water to Sehore, and the people can expect the waters of Narmada to reach the region soon. Efforts are also underway to supply Narmada water to farmers' fields in Ashta and Ichhawar. Speaking on urban development, Chouhan noted that Bhopal is being designated as a metropolitan city, and this will significantly benefit Sehore as the two cities grow closer and progress together. Regarding housing for the poor, Chouhan shared that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), 14 lakh homes were approved for the poor as per the 2018+ list. He announced the approval of the remaining 7,85,356 houses. He also mentioned that the survey work for the scheme is underway, and after verification, new eligible applicants will also be approved to ensure that every deserving poor family gets a home. The Minister proudly stated that 1.48 crore women across the country have become 'Lakhpati Didis' (women earning Rs 1 lakh or more annually), and the government continues to strive to ensure no woman remains poor. Efforts are also being made to increase this number further. Chouhan further discussed the ongoing Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, stating, 'I have asked 16,000 scientists to step out of laboratories and go into villages. These scientists are now visiting rural areas, sharing their research directly with the farmers. I urge farmers to listen carefully to the scientists and adopt their recommendations to increase productivity. It is our resolve to achieve Viksit Krishi (developed agriculture) for a Viksit Bharat.' Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, also addressing the gathering on this occasion, assured that irrigation facilities will be extended to every farm and that, wherever necessary, full water support will be provided to ensure complete irrigation, the release added. (ANI)
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Now that Indus treaty is on hold, we'll use more water for Indian farmers: Agriculture Minister Chouhan
CHANDIGARH: Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that as the Indus Waters Treaty has been put in abeyance, efforts will be made to ensure that more water reaches farmers in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. He said that 80 per cent of water from the Indus river system was flowing into Pakistan. "Giving 80 per cent water to Pakistan at that time was not justified. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan require water and that water is ours. Now we will utilize that water for our farmers," said Chouhan. Chouhan, who was on a day-long visit to Punjab, visited a farmers' gathering (Kisan Chaupal) in Rajpura, Patiala, as well as the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Rauni. He was accompanied by Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal and ICAR scientists. He has been engaging with farmers across various states to promote sustainable and progressive farming practices as part of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. Citing its benefits in water conservation and reduced labour costs, he said that farmers should adopt the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method and also urged them to refrain from excessive pesticide use. "I have been apprised of good crop practices, be it direct seeding, mushroom farming or making silage," he said. When asked about complaints about fake pesticides, Chouhan said that the government will frame a new law, making a provision for stringent action against any company which supplies fake pesticides to farmers. Lauding the role of Punjab farmers in filling the foodgrain stock of the country, Chouhan said the country has registered an all-time record production in wheat, paddy, maize and soybean this year. "For this, Punjab has the biggest role and I bow to the land of Punjab," said Chouhan. He emphasised that the research of agricultural scientists should reach farmers and scientists should know what problems farmers are facing at their fields so that research can be undertaken in that regard. "I am not a guest here, I am a family member, I am not here for rhetoric but I am here to directly interact with farmers and understand the ground reality. Our focus should be to connect land and lab, so that farmers benefit from real-time innovation. Policies should come from the field not from officers in air-conditioned rooms."
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Chouhan launches ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan'
Bhubaneswar: Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday launched the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', a nationwide campaign aimed at transforming Indian agriculture through scientific intervention. The campaign was launched at Sakhigopal in Puri district in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister K V Singh Deo, local MLAs and senior agricultural scientists. Chouhan, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, said the campaign seeks to help India become the 'food basket of the world' by directly connecting agricultural scientists with farmers. The campaign aims to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Lab to Land' and the concept of a developed India, he added. Under the initiative, scientists from across the country will leave their laboratories to engage with farmers in over 700 districts, providing hands-on guidance and collecting feedback from the field. 'This is the first time since Independence that such a campaign is being undertaken to connect scientists and farmers directly. The initiative is result-oriented, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, there will be no shortage of funds for agricultural research,' Chouhan said while addressing the gathering. The campaign will run from May 29 to June 12, aiming to reach and directly engage with around 1.5 crore farmers nationwide. Chouhan encouraged agricultural scientists to view their field visits as a service to the nation's 'Annadatas' (food providers). 'You are going to serve the farmers. It is your good fortune that you are getting a chance to go to the village and talk to the farmers and increase their crop production, there can be no greater virtue than this,' he said. He also appealed to farmers to actively engage with the scientists. 'Please take some time to meet them, learn about new farming techniques, and help increase production. Better seeds mean better yield, and I thank ICAR scientists for developing new seed varieties,' Chouhan added. Highlighting India's agricultural achievements, Chouhan said the country produced 3,539.59 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains this year—216.61 lakh metric tonnes more than last year. 'India is now capable of feeding its population of 145 crore. But we must not stop — we aim to become the food basket of the world, not just meet our domestic needs but also export to other countries,' he said. Chouhan attributed this success to the blessings of Lord Jagannath, underlining the symbolic importance of launching the campaign from Puri, the holy land of the deity. 'This is not just an agricultural campaign; it's a national mission to ensure our food reserves are full and our farmers' incomes rise,' he told reporters after visiting Jagannath temple to seek blessings before the launch. Before inaugurating the campaign, Chouhan participated in a 'Tiranga Yatra' (Tricolour March) and a plantation programme, alongside Majhi and other dignitaries, marking a symbolic commitment to sustainability and national pride.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Water hyacinth removal not permissible under MGNREGA, says Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has informed that the removal of water hyacinth, a perennial aquatic weed that infests waterbodies, cannot be included in the list of permissible works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Earlier, Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, had written to the Minister, requesting that the removal of water hyacinth from waterbodies in the Kuttanad region in Kerala be included as a permissible activity under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). In response, Mr. Chouhan cited legal constraints. He said that water hyacinth removal was not permissible under MGNREGA as per existing guidelines. 'I have got the matter examined by the Ministry. As per Schedule 1, Para 4(3) of the MGNREGA Act, 2005, works which are non-tangible, not measurable and repetitive, such as removing grass, pebbles, and agricultural operations, shall not be taken up. As the removal of water hyacinth from waterbodies is similar in nature to the types of work outlined in Schedule 1 Para 4(3), it cannot be included in the permissible work list under MGNREGS,' Mr. Chouhan said. Mr. Suresh expressed disappointment over the Ministry's interpretation and response. 'Water hyacinth has become a serious ecological and livelihood challenge in Kuttanad. It affects farmers and fishermen and severely disrupts inland water navigation. It poses a major threat to agriculture and public health. Denying employment opportunities for removing this menace under MGNREGA is a grave injustice to rural communities,' the Mavelikara MP said. He urged the Centre to reconsider the guidelines and adopt a region-specific approach that would allow the inclusion of ecosystem restoration activities such as water hyacinth removal. 'Manual removal of aquatic weed could provide sustainable employment to thousands of rural workers and help protect the fragile ecosystem of Kuttanad,' Mr. Suresh added.
