CM Patel's late-night review system ensures swift action for farmers: Gujarat Minister (Lead)
Gandhinagar, June 20
Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani on Saturday said the state's agricultural governance is characterised by transparency, large-scale financial support and continuous administrative responsiveness, including the Chief Minister's urgent decision-making on farmer-related issues, even during late-night discussions.
Speaking at the state-level "PM Kisan Utsav Diwas" programme in Gandhinagar, Vaghani said the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme has directly benefited 51.28 lakh farmers in Gujarat with Rs 1,025 crore transferred into their bank accounts without intermediaries.
"The scheme, launched in 2019, has emerged as a key national support mechanism, benefiting more than 11 crore farmer families across India with over Rs 4.50 lakh crore disbursed so far," he said.
He stated that under the scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually in three instalments, which helps them manage essential agricultural expenses such as seeds, fertilisers and crop protection inputs.
"The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has ensured full transparency in implementation and eliminated middlemen," he asserted.
Vaghani highlighted that Gujarat has implemented large-scale support measures for farmers, including agricultural mechanisation subsidies worth thousands of crores, a Rs 11,000 crore relief package during natural disasters last year, and procurement operations worth around Rs 15,000 crore at minimum support price (MSP).
"These measures have collectively provided approximately Rs 25,000 crore in support through procurement and direct assistance mechanisms," he said.
He emphasised that the state government has expanded subsidies for modern farming equipment, including harvesters, rotavators, power tillers, cultivators, seed-cum-fertiliser drills and other machinery, allowing greater mechanisation and reducing dependence on manual labour.
He also referred to enhanced assistance for fencing schemes and storage infrastructure to protect crops and stabilise farmer incomes.
Regarding governance responsiveness, Vaghani said the Chief Minister remains continuously engaged in reviewing agricultural issues and ensures the prompt resolution of farmer concerns.
He said, "No issue related to farmers has ever been ignored," noting that decisions are taken with urgency and sensitivity, including during late-night review discussions when required.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Late-night reviews? That's just political drama. Real issue is soil degradation, water scarcity, and loan waivers. Farmers need long-term solutions, not just cash doles. My uncle in Saurashtra still struggles with drip irrigation costs. 😔
Rs 25,000 crore support is huge! But why only talk about Gujarat? Farmers in UP, Bihar, and Punjab also need similar attention. Modi ji's PM-Kisan is good but state-level implementation varies a lot. 👀
This is excellent governance! CM Patel ji and Minister Vaghani ji deserve credit for timely aid during last year's natural disasters. My friend in Kutch got relief within days. Transparency in DBT is a game changer. Jai Kisan! 🚜💪
Rs 6,000 per year is barely enough for seeds and fertilisers. My cousin in Punjab spends more on electricity for tubewells. Need to increase this amount or link to inflation. Also, mechanisation subsidies are good but small farmers can't afford remaining cost.
Finally, a govt that works beyond office hours! Late-night reviews show seriousness. But talk about organic farming and water conservation too. Real 'Utsav' would be when farmers get stable prices and not worry about debt. Let's see if this translates to ground reality. 🤞
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.