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Bhopal, Oct 14 (IANS) In a wide-ranging set of decisions aimed at promoting agriculture, tribal livelihoods and economic growth, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved key initiatives in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
Urban Development Minister and government spokesperson Kailash Vijayvargiya said these decisions are “transformational for farmers and marginalized communities”, underscoring the state’s commitment to self-reliance amid challenging market conditions.
At the forefront is the revival of the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (price differential scheme) for soybean farmers, which has been relaunched after a gap of eight years following farmers’ demand for minimum support price (MSP) protection.
Madhya Pradesh, India’s “soybean bowl” that produces about 60 per cent of the country’s output across 66 lakh hectares, has seen prices fall due to oversupply and irregular weather, with many farmers getting prices below the MSP of Rs 5,328 per quintal.
Under the scheme, the government will calculate the average mandi rate and compensate the price difference directly into the accounts of farmers through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
Registration began on October 3 and will run till October 17, with implementation from November 1 to January 31, 2026.
“Farmers will not suffer; we will bridge the gap,” assured Minister Vijayvargiya, responding to previous criticisms over delays in payments from the 2017 rollout, which led to a 30-35 per cent fall in prices.
To champion climate-friendly ‘Shri Anna’ millets, the Cabinet gave the go-ahead to the formation of Shri Anna Federation for Kodo and Kutki millet varieties, which are important for 11 tribal-dominated districts like Mandla and Dindori. These nutrient-rich grains, grown by over 18,000 tribal women through SHGs, now fetch an MSP of Rs 3,500 per quintal for Kodo and Rs 2,500 per quintal for Kutki – up from the earlier minimum of Rs 12 per kg. The interest-free loan of Rs 80 crore will finance marketing, value addition and processing of products like cookies and cereals through the federation, increasing earnings from Rs 12 per kg to Rs 80-90 per kg.
“It empowers tribal women by linking up with the National Millet Mission for food security,” he said, citing a 50 per cent decline in production in recent decades due to changing priorities.
Sericulture is promoted through the Unnat Resham Samridhi Yojana (Sericulture Promotion Scheme), whereby the input subsidy is increased from Rs 3.65 lakh/acre to Rs 5 lakh/acre. Farmers’ contribution has been reduced to Rs 1.25 lakh per acre (from Rs 1.56 lakh), SC/ST beneficiaries have been limited to only Rs 50,000 – making entry easier for small farmers in Chhindwara and Burhanpur centres.
For MSMEs, an allocation of Rs 105 crore under the World Bank-backed RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance) scheme targets quality upgrading, market access and greening. The state will contribute 30 per cent to the central fund, issue loans to over 6,000 units (47 per cent led by women), promote jobs in renewable energy and exports.
The minister said, “MSMEs are dignity engines; this will create self-reliant entrepreneurs.” In humanitarian interest, the Cabinet gave out-of-turn promotion to Constable Arun Singh Bhadoria, PSO (Personal Security Officer) of Rau MLA Madhu Verma for saving the MLA’s life through CPR during a cardiac arrest on September 24 in Indore. Doctors appreciated their timely intervention, which stabilized Verma’s condition after the surgery.
Additionally, there will be an increase of Rs 170 crore in pension for those retired before 2016 under the Sixth and Seventh Pay Commission, which will benefit more than 4.5 lakh senior citizens, the minister said.
Lastly, SC/ST students get access to a national level coaching institute with monthly accommodation assistance of Rs 1,000 under the ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Coaching Scheme’, which targets 5,000+ candidates for exams like JEE/NEET/UPSC.
He urged, “All are welcome; education breaks down barriers.”
–IANS
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