MP CM urges focus on horticulture, animal husbandry to boost farmer income
Bhopal, June 11
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday said agriculture in Madhya Pradesh must move beyond traditional crops, stressing that horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing are key to raising farmer income.
"Agriculture cannot be limited to traditional crops alone. To boost farmers' income, it is essential to accord equal importance to horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing alongside agriculture," Yadav said.
His statement comes as Madhya Pradesh has emerged as one of the leading states in agriculture and horticulture. The state currently ranks third in the country in vegetable production, according to the press note. Over the past four years, vegetable output in the state has risen by 21.58 lakh metric tonnes. Production grew from 236.41 lakh metric tonnes in 2022-23 to 257.99 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25.
The government stated that the rise is due to a favourable climate, fertile land, expanded irrigation, and the adoption of modern techniques by farmers. Nationally, India produces about 2,177 lakh metric tonnes of vegetables, with Madhya Pradesh contributing around 259 lakh metric tonnes.
"Farmers in the state grow a wide range of vegetables, including onion, potato, tomato, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, okra and gourds. Onion holds the largest share. The area under onion rose from 2.17 lakh hectares in 2022-23 to 2.30 lakh hectares in 2024-25," the statement said.
Under the 'Year of Farmers' Welfare', the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing has set a target to expand vegetable cultivation across 54,000 hectares. This includes 16,500 hectares for onions, 13,300 hectares for potatoes, 9,800 hectares for tomatoes, 3,500 hectares each for peas and cabbage, 1,200 hectares for high-value vegetables, and 6,200 hectares for gourds.
The department said farmers will get technical guidance, quality planting material and marketing support. The focus is on small-holding farmers to help them earn more from limited land.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally a CM thinking beyond traditional farming! My uncle in Ratlam tried vegetable farming on 1 acre last year and earned 3x more than wheat. But the key is market access—farmers need direct mandi connections, not middlemen eating profits. Hope this "Year of Farmers' Welfare" actually delivers! 🙏
Good intentions, but implementation is the real challenge. The horticulture department needs to ensure quality seeds and timely technical guidance reach the villages, not just remain on paper. Also, animal husbandry requires veterinary support—something that's severely lacking in rural MP. Let's see some ground-level action!
As someone from a farming family in Malwa region, I can tell you that horticulture is a game-changer for small holdings. My mother grows ridge gourd and bottle gourd in our backyard and sells them locally—she earns enough for household expenses. If the government provides training and market linkages, women farmers especially will benefit massively! 🌱
Interesting policy direction from MP. Having studied Indian agriculture, I believe diversifying into horticulture and allied sectors is exactly what smallholders need. But the 54,000-hectare target seems modest for a state as large as MP. I hope the private sector also steps in with processing units—food processing creates jobs too, not just higher income.
Respect to CM Yadav for acknowledging that farming isn't just about grain production anymore. But I'm cautiously optimistic—I've seen so many schemes announced with fanfare only to fizzle out. The real test will be whether small farmers actually get subsidized inputs, training, and fair prices. Let
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