· CM Eknath Shinde Accepts Best Agriculture State Award For The Year 2024
· Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde Also Attends Award Ceremony
· 15th Agriculture Leadership Award Committee’s Ceremony Concludes
New Delhi :- In recognition of its sustainable development policies in environmental protection and food security, the State of Maharashtra has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Best Agriculture State Award of 2024’ by the 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with State Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde, accepted the award. The award was presented by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi yesterday.
The 15th Agriculture Leadership Awards Committee, chaired by Former Supreme Court Judge and Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, has selected Maharashtra as the Best Agriculture State in recognition of the State’s policies on environmental protection, food security, and sustainable development.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Agriculture Today Group Chairperson Dr. M.J. Khan, Chairperson of the Agricultural Price Commission, Government of Maharashtra Pasha Patel, and other dignitaries were present.
After receiving the award, Chief Minister Shri. Shinde highlighted various schemes for agricultural development in the state and efforts for sustainable development. He stated, Maharashtra is a pioneer of the agricultural revolution. The State has a rich tradition of the green revolution and a glorious history of honouring agriculture and farmers. I am honored to accept this award as the head of the State. Coming from an ordinary farming family, I am very proud to accept this award. Chief Minister Shinde thanked Agriculture Today Group and the Jury for selecting Maharashtra as the best performing State in the field of agriculture. This award is the result of the hard work, toil, and love of the soil by our farmers. Our farmers are respected as ‘annadatas,’ (food-giver) and the State government has given top priority to their interests.
The farmers of Maharashtra are eager to adopt modern and advanced technology, and the progressive farmers of the State are respected, encouraging more farmers to embrace new technologies. Our farmers are always mindful of changing times and climate change, which is why Maharashtra is leading the agricultural revolution, Chief Minister Shinde stated.
United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General António Guterres has stated that the era of temperature global warming has ended, and the era of intense heating has begun, emphasizing the urgent need for action. The State of Maharashtra has responded to this challenge by committing to planting trees on 21 lakh hectares and utilizing 5% biomass. These initiatives are crucial steps towards safeguarding humanity. The State government has prioritized the bamboo mission, highlighting bamboo as a unique plant that supports the creation of 2000 different items. “Bamboo ghaasa nahi khaasa” (Bamboo is not just grass but a special class), Chief Minister Shinde remarked, underscoring the importance of environmental conservation and food security linked to bamboo.
Chief Minister Shinde highlighted several initiatives benefiting farmers in Maharashtra. He stated that we have implemented numerous schemes to support farmers, including significant steps such as loan waivers and leading the country in crop insurance schemes. Maharashtra has established the nation’s first micro-millet cluster in Latur district and aims to create irrigation potential for 17 lakh hectares through irrigation projects. We are committed to providing free electricity to farmers across the State, alongside financial assistance for cotton and soybean farmers.
Maharashtra’s revolutionary decisions in agriculture have earned it the Best Agricultural State Award. These decisions encompass increased production of micro-millets, doubling the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, distribution of nanotechnology fertilizers, ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cereals, establishment of green belts, and enhancing irrigation capacity, said Chief Minister in his speech.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Commends Maharashtra for Innovative Agricultural Measures
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the State Government of Maharashtra is planting bamboo on approximately 10 lakh hectares of land to mitigate the effects of climate change. Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan has praised this revolutionary decision.
