Agra Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma stated on Sunday that a wealthy farmer was the foundation of the state's development. He claimed that numerous schemes for farmer uplift were underway, and the BJP governments at the centre and in the state were dedicated to doubling farmers' income.
On Sunday, Sharma spoke at the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat' organised by the Bhanu faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) at Imalia Umargarh village in Tundla block of Firozabad district. Surya Pratap Shahi, the UP agricultural minister, accompanied the deputy CM. Bhanu Pratap Singh, the leader of the BKU's Bhanu faction, was also there.
In his address to the farmers, Sharma stated that Rs.32572 crore had been transferred into the accounts of 2.50 crore farmers in Uttar Pradesh through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.
“Previous governments in the state had persecuted sugarcane farmers, but chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath increased cane prices, and now 45.44 lakh cane farmers would earn an additional Rs.4000 crore.” In four and a half years, we have already secured payment of Rs.1.44 crore to sugarcane farmers. “The government has also decided to exclude interest on overdue amounts in farmers' electricity bills,” he stated.
“Immediately after taking power in the state, the BJP waived off loan of Rs.36,000 crores due on 86 lakh farmers. The previous government paid 12,808 crore to 19,02,098 farmers for wheat purchased on MSP, while our regime paid Rs.36,405 crore to 43,75,574 farmers in four and a half years,” said the deputy chief minister.
Surya Pratap Shahi, Uttar Pradesh's agriculture minister, assured farmers that, unlike during the past regime, they will not encounter difficulties in procuring fertilisers and urea for their crops.
“A total of Rs.2613 crore has been paid to farmers under the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme. The 'mandi shulk' has been lowered by 1%, 220 new mandis have been established, and 27 have been upgraded.
“Health cards for 3.76 lakh farmers have been prepared, and over 4000 rice purchasing centres have been established,” Shahi added.
