Jaipur, April 10 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that the prosperity of farmers is central to the progress of both the state and the nation. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Rajasthan’s agricultural ecosystem, he said efforts are being made to enhance farmers’ income through innovation, technology, and policy support.

Addressing the curtain-raiser event of the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM 2026), scheduled from May 23 to 25 in Jaipur, the Chief Minister said the event will provide a unique platform bringing together farmers, scientists, investors, and policymakers.

“GRAM 2026 will facilitate meaningful dialogue and enable farmers to benefit from global expertise, modern technologies, and advanced agricultural practices,” he said.

To ensure wide outreach, the Chief Minister announced that awareness chariots will be deployed at the Gram Panchayat level from April 15. These will disseminate information about farmer welfare schemes and include suggestion boxes to gather direct feedback from farmers.

Highlighting Rajasthan’s strong agricultural performance, the Chief Minister noted that the state ranks first in the production of millets, mustard, oilseeds, barley, and guar; second in moong and groundnuts; and third in soybean production.

He urged farmers to adopt scientific farming methods, minimise the use of chemical fertilisers, and rely on soil testing to maintain long-term soil fertility. He also stressed the adoption of modern irrigation techniques, such as sprinkler systems, to conserve water.

The Chief Minister said that micro-irrigation systems have been installed across 4.8 lakh hectares, while 12,476 water storage tanks (diggis) and over 32,918 km of irrigation pipelines have been developed.

Under the Chief Minister Mangala Livestock Insurance Scheme, more than 1.2 million livestock have been insured free of cost. Additionally, mobile veterinary services have treated nearly 6 million animals, benefiting over 1.5 million livestock owners.

He added that under the Mukhyamantri Dugdh Utpadak Sambal Yojana, milk producers are receiving Rs 5 per litre as financial assistance.

The Chief Minister highlighted that during the ‘Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit,’ 2,539 MoUs worth over Rs 430 billion were signed in the agriculture sector.

He also noted that under the PM-KISAN scheme, farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, supplemented by Rs 3,000 under the state’s Chief Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, with plans to increase this support further.

Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena said the government is focussed on transitioning farmers toward modern, technology-driven agriculture. He added that GRAM 2026 will connect farmers with global experts and innovations.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Sharma unveiled the GRAM logo and released the official brochure. The event was attended by Animal Husbandry Minister Joraram Kumawat, Minister of State for Cooperatives Gautam Kumar Dak, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, senior officials, and a large number of farmers.

–IANS

arc/rad