Developing agriculture based industries is the priority of the state government – Chief Minister Dr. Yadav
Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that it is necessary to encourage organic and natural farming techniques to protect the environment and human health from the adverse effects caused by unlimited use of agricultural chemicals. 
According to the data of the Government of India in the current year, work is being done by setting a target of doing organic farming in about 1 lakh acre area under the Natural Agriculture Development Scheme. In the coming years, a target should be set to increase organic-natural farming to five lakh hectares. Organic Haat-Bazaars should be set up at various places in the state to provide better prices of organic products to the farmers. Model districts and development blocks should be developed for natural agricultural products in the state. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also gave instructions to organize fairs based on organic and natural farming in the state. He said that solar pumps will be provided to farmers doing organic farming. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing the state level organic agricultural production and value addition workshop organized by the Department of Farmers Welfare and Agricultural Development. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also visited the exhibition organized by One District One Product and various departments and institutions working in the field of organic farming at the venue.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, while referring to his foreign trips, said that the whole world is looking towards Madhya Pradesh for pollution-free, healthy natural agricultural products. Agricultural production should increase with new techniques, but for environmental protection, it is necessary to maintain the balance of nature through organic and natural farming. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that this year has been declared as the Industry Year. Being an agriculture-based state, it is necessary to implement industry policies along with agriculture here. That is why the state government is paying special attention to developing agriculture-based industries. Agriculture-based industries will be established in districts where the industrial rate is low. He said that the state has a 9 percent share in the country’s milk production, which will be increased to 20 percent.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the state government is making every effort for the prosperity and increase in income of the farmers of the state. 
Transport expenses are being given to the agricultural producers for exporting vegetable products with the cooperation of the Central Government and the State Government. To provide this benefit to the farmers, the campaign being run with the help of agricultural producer organizations and voluntary organizations should be accelerated.
Agriculture Minister Mr. Edal Singh Kanshana said that on the basis of the organized workshop, organic production policy will be formulated on the basis of agro-climatic zones of different districts of the state. He informed that MoUs have been signed with 9 service providers in the state to promote organic farming. According to APEDA, the area of organic farming in the state is 11.48 lakh hectares. Including forest area, organic farming is being done in a total area of 20 lakh 55 thousand hectares in the state, which is the highest in the country. Strict steps have been taken to prevent stubble burning in the state. More than 42 thousand 500 agricultural equipment have also been distributed to farmers for residue management in the field itself. This has reduced the tendency of burning stubble.
On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Horticulture Mr. Anupam Rajan was specially present. Secretary Agriculture Mr. M. Selvendran highlighted the objectives of the workshop. Director Agriculture Mr. Ajay Gupta expressed his gratitude. In this two-day workshop, deep brainstorming will be done on various topics related to organic and natural farming. In this, efforts will be made to develop the organic policy of the state through conclusive dialogue between agricultural scientists, organic farming experts, farmer producer organizations, progressive farmers and agricultural officers.
