Bhopal, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that Madhya Pradesh’s rich agricultural tradition and sustainable development policies are now attracting the attention of global investors. In the Global Investors Summit Bhopal, investors presented investment proposals worth more than Rs 4,000 crore in the fields of agriculture, food processing and dairy production. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav described this as a milestone for the state’s green and white revolution. He said that the investment received in GIS Bhopal will play an important role in Madhya Pradesh realizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolution to make India a global “food basket.”
MP leads in Organic Farming
Madhya Pradesh has already become the country’s largest organic farming state. Contributing 40% to the country’s total organic farming, the state has now set a target to expand this area from 17 lakh hectares to 20 lakh hectares. The government is providing free solar pumps to farmers so that they can produce in an environment-friendly manner. Remarkable growth has also occurred in the state’s horticulture sector. In the past years, the area of horticultural crops has increased from 27 lakh hectares to 32 lakh hectares. This will also directly benefit the state’s fruit-vegetable producers.
MP will Become Dairy Production Hub
The state has joined the leading states in milk production in the country. Currently contributing 9% to the country’s total dairy production, Madhya Pradesh is now moving forward with the target of increasing this to 20%. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that the Sanchi brand has made a strong identity in national and international markets. At present, 591 lakh kilos of milk is produced daily in the state, with this, the state has become the third largest dairy-producing state in the country.
Increasing investment flow in Food Processing industry
A special session centered on the “Seed-to-Shelf” theme was organized in GIS-Bhopal, in which investors recognized the immense possibilities of the state. Eight food parks, Two mega food parks, Five agro-processing clusters and one logistics park are being established in the state. Under the Prime Minister Micro Food Processing Scheme, an assistance amount of Rs 930 crore has been approved. Here, more than 70 large industrial units and over 3,800 micro, small, and medium enterprise units are already active. Through these, the processing of agricultural products is being promoted.
Expansion of Agricultural Sector Through Irrigation Projects
The irrigated area in the state has increased rapidly. In the year 2003, only 3 lakh hectares of land was irrigated, which has now reached 50 lakh hectares. The government has set a target to increase this to 1 crore hectares by the year 2028-29. This target will be possible through irrigation projects built on perennial rivers like Narmada, Chambal, Tapti, Betwa, Son, Kshipra, Kalisindh, and Tawa.
New Employment Opportunities from GIS-Bhopal
With the Rs 4,000 crore investment in the food processing sector from GIS-Bhopal, more than 8,000 employment opportunities will be created in the state. With the growth of food processing industries, farmers will be able to directly obtain better value for their produce, which will further boost the state’s economic strength.
The investment proposals received in GIS-Bhopal regarding the green and white revolution have given Madhya Pradesh an opportunity to take strong steps toward becoming the country’s “food basket.” These investments in agriculture, organic farming, food processing and dairy production are ready to write a new chapter of development in the state.
