Cooperative Minister Shri Gaurishankar Bisen has directed that maximum quantity of certified seeds should be made available to farmers with a view to increasing agricultural production. Shri Bisen was addressing a meeting of Board of Directors of Madhya Pradesh Seed Federation at Mantralaya on Tuesday. Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture Development Minister Dr. Ramkrishna Kusmaria, Agriculture Production Commissioner Shri M.M. Upadhyay, Principal Secretary Cooperatives Shri P.C. Meena and Director Agriculture Dr. D.N. Sharma were present on the occasion.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has opposed the Madhya Pradesh government's move to fill up the Maheshwar dam up to a height of 154 metres and has warned of a “ jal satyagraha” if the government goes ahead with the decision.

The State government, along with the Maheshwar project promoter Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Ltd (SMHPCL), has asked permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to fill up the dam up to 154 metres.

Cotton production in the country has more than doubled due to the use of Bt cotton seeds, said Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today, batting in favour of the contentious genetically modified crop that is coming under increasing attack from activists and farmers for “stagnant yields, pest resistance and evolution of new pest and disease attacks”. In response to concerns raised in the Rajya Sabha over low yields due to the hybrid cotton seed, Pawar said cotton production had in fact risen from 164 lakh bales in 2004-05 to 340 lakh bales in 2011-12.

Actual irrigation has been done in 87,000 hectare area from Narmada Valley projects till December 2011 during the current fiscal. During the period, 601.59 crore units of power have also been generated by Narmada Valley hydel power plants. This information was given at a meeting of departmental advisory committee chaired by Minister of State for Narmada Valley Development, Kanhaiyalal Agrawal. Member MLA Balkrishna Patidar, special invitee Kamal Patel, vice-chairman of Narmada Valley Development Authority OP Rawat and other officers were present at the meeting.

Competition is tough in the seed market, which may explain why marketing gimmicks are often used to woo farmers. It’s tougher still for the farmers to get compensation when the claims fail and they are saddled with a bad or damaged crop. Sometimes the state government steps in to offer compensation or the farmers turn to the consumer court for relief. Typically, of course, the lack of compensation leads farmers deeper into debt.

Uninterrupted power supply and provision of other concessions to industries will become easier in 15,000 hectare area with a view to accelerating the pace of State’s industrial development. For this purpose, 229 industrial centres and zones have been notified. Following the notification, these centres and zones are going to become even more active.

Bhopal : Thirty-two schemes of 34 districts of Madhya Pradesh worth Rs. 1752 crore have been sanctioned under Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification scheme. Under the scheme, 395 non-electrified villages have been electrified. Besides, intense electrification has been undertaken in 13 thousand 389 villages where free connections have been given to 4 lakh 83 thousand below poverty line beneficiaries so far. Moreover, schemes of 16 districts of the state have been forwarded for approval to Rural Electrification Corporation.

BHILALA TRIBALS often assemble next to what used to be their village, Atursumba of Khargaon district in southeast Madhya Pradesh. Dwarfing them is a 100-feet-wide canal laid high above the ground. Water has seeped from the earthen embankments and submerged the village. “Now, we don’t sing harvest songs; the fun is missing from marriage parties. We are overwhelmed by the destruction of our fertile land,” rues Kailash Pawar, 40, of the tribal village.

The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will lay foundation stone for Khargone lift irrigation project to the tune of Rs 550 crore under Indira Sagar Irrigation Project on April 17, 2011, Sunday at a grand function being held in Khargone. Narmada Valley Development Authority Chairman K.L. Agrawal will preside over the function.