Bihar is pioneer in Makhana production: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Addressing the gathering of farmers, officials and dignitaries in Patna, Agriculture Minister Chouhan said that Bihar is a pioneer in Makhana production.

"The legacy of knowledge and industriousness of this state is incomparable. The land witnessed Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha, which gave a new direction to India's freedom struggle," he added.

The Union Minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve to make farming profitable. Over Rs. 3,77,000 crore has been transferred directly to the accounts of farmers under the PM-Kisan scheme so far. On this occasion, over Rs. 20,000 crore was deposited in the accounts of farmers, providing financial assistance to lakhs of farmer families across the country.

Chouhan emphasised efforts like Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Yojana to increase agricultural productivity per hectare, especially in low productivity areas. He highlighted the significant contribution of Makhana production in Bihar and the continuous efforts to connect agricultural science with the farms.

The Union Minister assured the timely and adequate availability of fertilisers and pesticides. He also informed about the efforts under various schemes to provide compensation in case of crop failure. He said that now the crops are procured at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), to which 50 per cent profit is added on the production cost. This reflects the farmer-centric approach of the government.

Highlighting the measures for farmers' welfare, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chouhan said that with the help of DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), the government is ensuring that the assistance reaches directly into the accounts of the farmers. He said, "Earlier, farmers used to get only a few pennies of Rs. 1 sent by the government, but now they receive the whole amount without any leakage." (ANI)