Gwalior: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Wednesday announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening the state’s farm economy, including a target to expand irrigated agricultural land to 100 lakh hectares over the next two-and-a-half years and provide farmers with 10 hours of electricity during the daytime.
Addressing the state-level Balaram Jayanti Mahotsav and Cooperative Farmers’ Conclave in Gwalior on the occasion of Hal Shashthi, Yadav also launched an online Kisan Credit Card portal, a simplified zero-interest agricultural loan repayment system, the Krishak Kavach Yojana, offices for 200 newly registered Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, or PACS, and a divisional branch of Apex Bank in Gwalior.
“The one who holds the plough is the real strength of the country,” Yadav said, describing farmers’ labour as the “fuel” of Madhya Pradesh’s economy.
Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar were among the senior leaders present at the event.
Farmers to Get Daytime Electricity
Yadav said farmers in Madhya Pradesh would now receive electricity for irrigation during the daytime, adding that the state had emerged as one of the country’s leading electricity-producing states.
More than 60 lakh hectares of agricultural land is currently irrigated in Madhya Pradesh, according to the Chief Minister. The government has set a target of raising this to 100 lakh hectares within the next two-and-a-half years.
The expansion of irrigation is being positioned as one of the major pillars of the government’s agricultural strategy as it seeks to improve productivity while reducing farmers’ dependence on uncertain rainfall.
Online Kisan Credit Card Portal Launched
Among the major initiatives launched in Gwalior was an online Kisan Credit Card portal, which will allow farmers to apply for credit facilities from their homes.
The government also introduced changes to the zero-percent interest agricultural loan scheme.
Under the new system, the earlier requirement for separate repayment of Kharif and Rabi crop loans has been removed. Farmers will instead be able to repay loans according to their convenience during a 12-month period.
Yadav said farmers would no longer have to “turn over” their loan accounts every six months and could repay the amount at any point during the year under the revised mechanism.
Krishak Kavach Scheme, 200 PACS Offices Opened
The Chief Minister also launched the Krishak Kavach Yojana, which aims to connect farmers with loans and government welfare schemes even in cases where scrutiny of their accounts has remained pending and prevented them from accessing benefits.
In another push to strengthen the cooperative network at the village level, offices of 200 new PACS institutions were formally inaugurated.
A new divisional branch of Apex Bank in Gwalior was also opened during the programme.
Yadav additionally announced that the Madhya Pradesh government would provide the necessary assistance to help the District Central Cooperative Bank, Shivpuri, recover from its present financial condition.
‘From Seed to Market, Farm to Export’
Yadav said the government wanted to strengthen the farmer’s entire economic journey — “from seed to market and from farm to export”.
He said Madhya Pradesh was moving beyond conventional agriculture towards agri-tech, agri-business and food processing, with technology, value addition and improved market access expected to play a greater role in farm incomes.
“Agriculture is our heritage, while agri-tech and agri-business are our future,” he said.
The government is also encouraging horticulture, organic farming, fisheries and diversification into newer crops.
Yadav urged farmers to make efficient use of water, adopt natural farming practices, grade and process their produce, improve packaging, connect directly with markets and encourage young people to take up agricultural entrepreneurship.
He also asked farmers to obtain their Farmer ID, saying it would make access to government schemes, minimum support price payments and subsidised seeds and fertilisers easier.
Madhya Pradesh Aims to Become ‘Milk Capital’
The Chief Minister said the state government was working to strengthen Madhya Pradesh’s rural economy with the ambition of making it the country’s “milk capital”.
A Vrindavan Gram is being developed in every block, he said, while fodder assistance has been increased from ₹20 to ₹40.
The state has also launched a new cattle-rearing scheme aimed at increasing milk production by 20%.
Under the programme, livestock farmers can receive a subsidy of ₹10 lakh on loans of up to ₹40 lakh, Yadav said.
Farmers are also being linked with fisheries, poultry and goat-rearing programmes to diversify rural sources of income.
The Chief Minister referred to the “Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam” initiative as part of efforts to encourage farmers to supplement foodgrain cultivation with horticultural crops.
‘Do Not Sell Your Land’
Yadav urged farmers to maintain their connection with agriculture even as younger generations pursue professional careers.
He said students should become doctors and engineers but continue their association with farming, calling agriculture a part of India’s cultural inheritance.
“Madhya Pradesh is changing. Farmers should not sell their land,” he said, adding that he believed the state was on course to move ahead of traditional agricultural leaders such as Punjab and Haryana.
He also cited the Ken-Betwa river-linking project, new expressways, highways, greenfield roads and expanding aviation and railway connectivity as part of the state’s broader infrastructure push.
Scindia Says Technology Will Drive Farm Prosperity
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said modern technology, including drones and renewable energy, would play an important role in improving agricultural prosperity.
Calling India an agriculture-based nation, Scindia said the cooperative movement had provided benefits to farmers across the country.
He also highlighted the role of dams and reservoirs in the Gwalior-Chambal region in expanding agricultural activity.
Scindia said work was progressing on converting the former narrow-gauge rail corridor into broad gauge, with the line eventually expected to connect Gwalior with Kota, providing better transportation links for the region.
He said farmers in Madhya Pradesh receive ₹12,000 annually under farmer support schemes and referred to the state’s target of expanding irrigation coverage from 60 lakh hectares to 100 lakh hectares.
According to Scindia, farmers would also benefit from micro-ATMs, the Krishak Kavach programme and new offices for 200 registered PACS societies.
Farmers’ Prosperity Key to National Growth: Tomar
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar said farmers’ prosperity was directly linked to the prosperity of the country.
He noted that Balaram Jayanti had been celebrated in Gwalior for nearly two decades and said the state government had now expanded the observance across Madhya Pradesh.
Tomar said cooperative institutions had played a major role in supporting farmers and recalled Madhya Pradesh’s early adoption of zero-interest agricultural loans.
He also highlighted the expansion of organic farming in the state.
2026 Being Observed as Farmers’ Welfare Year
Sports and Youth Welfare and Cooperation Minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang said 2026 was being observed as Krishak Kalyan Varsh, or Farmers’ Welfare Year, on the initiative of Chief Minister Yadav.
He said the cooperative department was providing zero-interest agricultural loans and working to ensure farmers received fair value for their produce.
Apex Bank Chairman Dr. Mahendra Singh Yadav said 22 districts had already hosted Balaram agriculture festivals during the Farmers’ Welfare Year.
He also placed several demands before the Chief Minister, including an increase in insurance cover for credit card holders associated with PACS.
Farmers, Cooperative Banks Honoured
The Chief Minister distributed benefits under several farmer-oriented schemes during the programme.
The Primary Milk Cooperative Society, Dubaha Tanka, in Gwalior district was provided a micro-ATM.
Farmer Mohan Singh Gurjar received the Mukhyamantri Gau Vardhan Award, carrying ₹5,100, for advanced animal husbandry.
A total of 18 beneficiaries were honoured or provided assistance under various farmer welfare programmes from the main stage.
Three district cooperative central banks were also recognised for their performance. The District Cooperative Central Bank, Khargone, received first place, followed by Vidisha in second place and Dewas in third.
Five primary agricultural cooperative societies — from Lateri in Vidisha, Gogawan in Khargone, Govindpur in Satna, Nahargarh in Mandsaur and Palari in Seoni — were also awarded certificates and cash prizes.
Micro-ATMs were handed over to two milk cooperative societies in Gwalior district, Madanpura and Dubaha Tanka.
Awards of ₹5,100 each were also presented through the Nandlal Bal Kalyan Samiti in different agricultural categories.
Financial Assistance for Farm Enterprises
Financial assistance was distributed for agricultural and renewable-energy projects during the event.
Morena resident Julesh Tyagi received assistance of ₹2.30 crore from the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for mushroom production and processing.
Gwalior resident Deepti Gupta received ₹5.80 crore under the PM-KUSUM scheme for setting up a solar energy plant, while Shweta Gupta of Shivpuri received ₹1.53 crore for setting up a flour mill.
Before addressing the gathering, Yadav inaugurated the Balaram Jayanti celebrations by offering flowers before an image of Lord Balaram and lighting a ceremonial lamp.
He later showered flower petals on farmers as a gesture of respect and directly received applications from several farmers attending the programme.
The gathering was also attended by Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana, Cooperation Minister Vishvas Kailash Sarang, Horticulture and Social Justice Minister Narayan Singh Kushwah, New and Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla, MPs, legislators, cooperative representatives and other public representatives.
With credit reforms, expanded irrigation, cooperative infrastructure and a growing emphasis on processing and agricultural technology, the announcements in Gwalior signal Madhya Pradesh’s attempt to move its farm policy beyond crop production alone. The larger test will be how quickly these measures translate from schemes and portals into lower costs, better market access and more predictable incomes for farmers on the ground.
