New Delhi, March 24: During the question hour in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the issue of doubling farmers’ income, making several significant claims. He asserted that many farmers in the country have not only doubled their income but have seen it increase several times over.
Chouhan stated that farmers’ income has risen not just twofold but has increased two to three times, and in some cases, it has surged up to eight times. He criticized the opposition, highlighting the severe lack of basic amenities in villages during previous governments. He remarked, “At that time, there was no electricity, no water, and no roads.”
Using Madhya Pradesh as an example, he explained that farmers previously could only harvest one crop due to poor electricity conditions. He noted, “Electricity was available less and went out more. Often, only the electricity bills would arrive.”
He elaborated on how the government expanded irrigation facilities and ensured 24-hour electricity supply. As a result, farmers in Madhya Pradesh are now able to harvest three crops a year, leading to increased income.
The Union Minister also mentioned the increase in the agricultural budget. He noted that the agricultural budget was previously ₹19,306 crores, which has now been raised to over ₹1.3 lakh crores. When combined with related sectors, the total budget exceeds ₹5 lakh crores.
Discussing production figures, Chouhan stated that production, which was around 14 percent, has now reached 44 percent. He highlighted that the central government provides farmers with an annual assistance of ₹6,000 under the ‘Nidhi Samman’ scheme. Additionally, loans are made accessible to farmers through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.
It is noteworthy that during the Lok Sabha question hour, TMC MP Sougata Roy raised questions regarding farmers’ income, to which Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan responded.
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