Jabalpur, April 8 (IANS) Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Wednesday addressed the ‘Krishi Manthan 2026’ event at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University (JNKVV), Jabalpur, organised jointly by the Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and the university.

The conclave focussed on brainstorming to align research, extension services, and market access as part of the state’s ‘Krishi Kalyan Varsh (Farmer Welfare Year)’ 2026.

He described 2026 as a dedicated year for diverse events and integrated activities aimed at boosting agriculture and allied sectors.

On wheat procurement, which began recently, Yadav mentioned state support through the Bhavantar Scheme and efforts towards processing crops like masoor and chana to make farming more profitable.

He referenced the slogan “Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan, Jai Vigyan” (popularised by late Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and noted that Prime Minister Modi has added “Jai Anusandhan (Hail Research)” to it.

The Chief Minister laid stress on a coordinated approach involving multiple departments under the theme of ‘Unity in Diversity’ to advance farmer welfare.

“Under the ‘Farmer Welfare Year’ initiative, we have decided to organise a diverse array of distinct events throughout the entire year. Consequently — by bringing together various departments, providing a unified platform for their collective activities, and upholding the spirit of ‘Unity in Diversity’ amidst this variety — we stand before you today to present this unique program dedicated to farmer welfare,” he stated.

He linked agriculture to a deeper philosophy of harmony with nature, referencing ancient Indian wisdom and historical evidence like the Bhimbetka rock paintings depicting agrarian life dating back thousands of years.

Yadav praised the village-centric, nature-revering lifestyle and recalled India’s shift from food shortages in the 1960s — when it imported wheat — to self-sufficiency driven by scientific research and leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Yadav highlighted the vision for the River Linking Project and noted how political hurdles delayed progress in the Narmada Valley in the 1970s.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi (during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister) with completing the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which transformed water availability.

“Mother Narmada is our lifeline. Her waters keep Madhya Pradesh lush and verdant, bring joy and prosperity to Gujarat, and quench the thirst of other states, including Rajasthan,” he added.

The CM showcased Madhya Pradesh’s achievements and stated that the state leads the nation in pulses production (with significant contributions to chickpeas and overall pulses output) and ranks high in oilseeds, food grains, and wheat.

Farmers are adopting multi-cropping, including a third crop cycle, setting new records.

“The state also leads in area under natural farming and has initiated procurement of indigenous millets like Kodo and Kutki. Notably, Prasad offerings at Baba Mahakal now include Ragi laddoos,” he pointed out.

Yadav announced plans to increase milk production growth from the current 9 per cent to 20 per cent and provide free milk to students in government schools from Class 1 to Class 8, aiming to improve nutrition.

He urged the agricultural university community to support advanced crop varieties, agricultural startups, modern machinery, and value addition.

“We require your assistance in promoting advanced crop varieties over traditional seeds, enhancing production capacities, fostering agricultural startups, and facilitating the adoption of modern farm machinery,” he said.

Chief miniter also inaugurated the new administrative building of the Jabalpur Agricultural University, dedicated to the memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a cost of ₹16.47 crore, initiated a training programme for 1,000 ‘Krishi Sakhis’ (female agricultural assistants), allocated work orders worth ₹1.08 crore to 10 startups and launched a new sugarcane unit in Narsinghpur.

The event also featured displays of unique agricultural products and reinforced the government’s push for digital governance for transparent scheme implementation.

–IANS

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