The Chief Minister Accepts Maharashtra’s Best Agriculture Award.

Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde attended the award function of the 15th Agriculture Leadership Committee, which recognized achievements in environmental protection, food security, and sustainable development policies.

New Delhi, Dt. 10: In recognition of its sustainable development policies through environmental protection and food security, Maharashtra has been awarded the prestigious Best Agriculture State Award 2024 by the 15th Agriculture Leadership Committee. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accompanied by State Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde, accepted the award. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the award today.

The 15th Agriculture Leadership Committee-2024 Conclave, organized by Agriculture Today Group, selected Maharashtra as the best agricultural state under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Judge and Governor of Kerala, P. Sathasivam, acknowledging the state’s initiatives in environmental protection, food security, and sustainable development.

Prominent attendees included Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, President of Agriculture Today Group Dr. M.J. Khan, and State Agricultural Value Commission Chairman Pasha Patel, among others.

After accepting the award, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde highlighted various agricultural development schemes and efforts towards sustainable development in the state. He stated, “Maharashtra is the birthplace of the agricultural revolution. With a rich tradition of the Green Revolution and a history of honoring agriculture and farmers, it is an honor to receive this award as the Head of State. Coming from a humble farming background, I take immense pride in this recognition. I extend my gratitude to ‘Agriculture Today’ and the panel of judges for selecting Maharashtra as the best performing state in agriculture. This award is a tribute to all the farmers of the state and is a result of their hard work, dedication, and love for the soil. Our farmers are revered as ‘food donors,’ and the state government prioritizes their interests above all.”

Farmers in Maharashtra are eager to adopt modern technology, and we are honoring progressive farmers to encourage more widespread use of new technologies. In light of changing times and climate change, our farmers remain vigilant, which is why Maharashtra leads in agricultural revolution. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently stated that the era of rising temperatures is over, and the era of panic has begun, necessitating urgent action. In response, the Maharashtra government has committed to planting trees on 2.1 million hectares and utilizing 5 percent biomass. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also mentioned that Maharashtra has taken significant steps to protect humanity. Highlighting the importance of the bamboo mission, he noted that bamboo, a plant from which 2,000 types of products are made, plays a crucial role in environmental conservation and food security, emphasizing that “Bamboo is not grass; it is unique.”

Numerous schemes have been implemented for farmers, including assistance for loan waivers. Maharashtra also leads in the crop insurance scheme. The country’s first micro millet cluster has been launched in Latur district, aiming to create irrigation potential for 1.7 million hectares through various projects.

Maharashtra has received the Best Agriculture State Award due to its revolutionary agricultural decisions. These include increased micro millet production, doubling the PM Kisan Samman Fund, distribution of nano-technology fertilizers, MSP for cereals, the creation of green belts, and increased irrigation capacity.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised the state’s bamboo initiatives, stating, “The revolutionary decision by the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to plant bamboo on about 1 million hectares to combat climate change is commendable.”