Bhopal: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan promises better relief for hailstorm damages

Bhopal: The bonus of Rs 200 per quintal will be given to farmers who had sold wheat and rice in 2017, said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while addressing state level farmers’ convention held at Jamboree Maidan here on Monday. The relief measures he announced for farmers are being seen as an exercise to appease cultivators in assembly election year.

The chief minister announced several measures for betterment of farmers and also assured to provide better relief aid for hailstorm damages. In 2017, 68 lakh metric tonne of wheat was procured at minimum support price. During his address, he announced loan interest waiver. “Farmer will have to pay principal amount of loan, the interest will be waived off. Also, after depositing the first instalment of the amount, farmerswill be entitled to get loan amount again,” Chouhan said. He added that Rs 1 lakh crore will be spent on the irrigation projects in coming five years.

The chief minister asked farmers whether Bhavantar scheme should be continued. In response, the farmers raised slogans in support. After this, he declared that the scheme will continue after incorporating “better changes.” Chouhan said that farmers who don’t want to sell eight types of crops including onion can store them in warehouses for four months. The government will pay the warehouse rent.

 He also announced that the farmers can get 25 percent of the amount on the crop stored in the warehouses and after selling it, they can deposit the amount back in the bank. “Government will pay bank interest,” he said. He also announced CM Yuva Krishak Udyami  Yojana under which 100 youths will be given loan in every block to establish agro based processing units. “The loan of Rs 25 lakh to Rs 2 crore will be given. Annual interest will be 5 percent. It will have 15 percent subsidy,” he said.

 Speaking further, he said that the wheat will be procured at Rs 2,000 per quintal under CM Krishi Utpadakta Protsahan Yojana this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared the minimum support price of wheat as Rs 1,735 per quintal. State government will pay the remaining amount.

Similarly, bonus of Rs 200 per quintal will be given on rice. Chouhan said Rupey Card will be given in place of Kisan Credit Card, which will work like ATMs. The cattle-rearers will get loan of Rs 50,000 for the daily operations. The chief minister announced relief to farmers in electricity bills.  In another announcement, Chouhan said that unduly land in Chambal region land will be levelled and will be given to landless farmers for farming. A sum of Rs 1200 crore will be spent on it.