New Delhi, April 12 Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday unveiled the first set of district-level agriculture roadmaps for four districts of Madhya Pradesh -- Sehore, Raisen, Vidisha and Dewas -- aimed at making farming more profitable while promoting sustainable practices and efficient use of resources.
The roadmaps were released during the second day of the three-day ‘Unnat Krishi Mahotsav’ being held in Raisen district. The event has brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, scientists, agronomists, government officials, and companies dealing in agricultural equipment, seeds and inputs.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan emphasised the need for a shift in focus from merely increasing agricultural output to adopting the “right crops” suited to local agro-climatic conditions. He urged farmers to move beyond traditional crops such as wheat, paddy and soybean, and instead embrace diversification through allied activities like animal husbandry, horticulture, beekeeping and organic farming to enhance their incomes.
The district-specific plans place strong emphasis on efficient water use, crop diversification, climate-resilient agriculture and better market linkages. With groundwater depletion emerging as a growing concern in parts of these regions, the roadmap prioritises water conservation and optimal utilisation of available resources.
Highlighting opportunities in high-value agriculture, the minister pointed to crops such as tomato, onion, garlic and capsicum, along with fruits like pomegranate. He also encouraged farmers to explore newer options including dragon fruit and avocado cultivation.
A key feature of the initiative is the development of ‘seed villages’ at the block level to ensure access to high-quality seeds.
"Establishing around 10 such villages per block could increase productivity by up to 20 per cent," Chouhan noted.
The programme will be supported through central and state government schemes, with technical assistance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
To address gaps in farm mechanisation, the minister also proposed expanding custom hiring centres and ‘machine banks’ at the panchayat level, enabling small and marginal farmers to access modern equipment at affordable rates.
"The initiative will eventually be expanded to cover all districts of Madhya Pradesh, with a convergence of central and state schemes to ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level," Chouhan added.
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