“Our government is dedicated to safeguarding the rights of farmers : CM Vishnu Deo Sai

Raipur(TEAM NEWS BUDDY). Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai attended the ‘Rashtriya Krishi Mela Aur Sanghosti’ (National Agricultural Fair and Seminar) organised in Khapri (Kumhari) village of Durg district . Addressing the people, he stated that the present state government is committed to safeguarding the rights of the farmers and caring for their future, as they are the ‘Annadata’, the food providers for humanity. He highlighted Chhattisgarh’s status as a leading paddy producer and attributed this success to the farmers’ dedication, which made the state acclaimed as a ‘rice bowl’.

Chief Minister Sai shared the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s commitment to farmers and cited the launch of the Kisan Credit Card Scheme, aimed at liberating farmers from the vicious cycle of moneylenders. The scheme has provided low-interest loans to crores of farmers nationwide and brought considerable relief to them. Chief Minister Sai also highlighted the continuation of this support during Dr. Raman Singh’s government over 15 years and shared that he had initiated to provide zero percent interest loans to the farmers in the state.

Chief Minister Sai lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to launch schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana aimed at doubling farmers’ income. He highlighted that the Kisan Channel played a vital role in providing awareness to the farmers. Sai affirmed the state government’s commitment to fulfilling promises, including purchasing paddy up to 21 quintals per acre and providing a two-year pending bonus for paddy procurement. To adhere to Modi ji’s guarantee of procuring paddy at Rs 3100 per quintal, the pending amount will soon be disbursed to farmers. Throughout Dr. Raman Singh’s government in the state, his government was dedicated to uplifting the farmers economically and technically. He greeted the people of the state on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand ji.

For the ‘Pran Pratistha’ program of Lord Shri Ram Ji, Chief Minister Sai flagged off two trucks carrying around 20 quintals of green vegetables on behalf of the Kisan Sangh for devotees and dispatched them to Ayodhya Dham. He commended the farmers’ union for this initiative. He also honoured the farmers in the region. Sai visited the various stalls at the Kisan Mela and interacted with the farmers and beneficiaries of different schemes. He gained information about exotic fruits like Rose Wax Apple, Kashmir Apple Plum, and Passion Fruit showcased by the Horticulture Department. The Chief Minister tasted Rose Wax Apple, while Agriculture Minister Mr. Ram Vichar Netam tasted the Kashmiri Apple Plum during their stall visit. Sai also gained information about palm cultivation for oil.

Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam expressed gratitude to Chhattisgarh Yuva Pragatisheel Kisan Sangh during the program and interacted with the farmers for the first time after taking the oath. He attributed the rapid progress in farming to the hard work and forward-thinking of Chhattisgarh’s farmers and commended them for their achievements. Netam acknowledged the significant demand for Chhattisgarh-produced fruits, vegetables, and milk in other states and attributed this success to farmers’ hard work and the technical knowledge they gained from different sources. Addressing the farmers, he encouraged the use of technical knowledge for progress in farming and expressed a collective desire for the overall development of Chhattisgarh. Netam stressed the necessity of cooperation from all farmers to achieve the goal of creating a developed and prosperous Chhattisgarh. MLA Doman Lal Korsewada also addressed the people and expressed the need for setting up food processing units in the area.

Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam, Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, MLA Doman Lal Korsewada, Agriculture Production Commissioner Shehla Nigar, Collector Durg Richa Prakash Choudhary, Director of Agriculture Department Chandan Sanjay Tripathi, Director of Horticulture Department V. Matheswaran, Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Girish Chandel, Vice Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture and Forestry R. S. Kuril, other departmental officers, and a large number of people were present.