Bhopal, July 21 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday said the state government is making efforts to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Barwani’s famous red chilli to give it a distinct identity in national and international markets.
Addressing the ‘Balram Krishi Mahotsav’ in Barwani through video conferencing from the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Chief Minister urged farmers to adopt modern farming methods and use technology to improve production and income.
“We are working to get a GI tag for Barwani’s red chilli. Once it is granted, the product will get a unique identity in global markets,” Yadav said.
He added that Barwani has emerged as a leading agricultural district because of the hard work of its farmers.
“The district is setting new benchmarks in agriculture, entrepreneurship and innovation. I urge young farmers to adopt modern technology, start agri‑based enterprises and take advantage of government schemes,” he stated.
The Chief Minister said the government is spending nearly Rs 5,000 crore on irrigation projects, including the Sendhwa, Niwali, Pati and Nagalwadi lift irrigation schemes and the Shaheed Bhima Nayak Sagar (Lower Goi) project.
He said these projects will provide irrigation to more than 1.21 lakh hectares of farmland in 319 villages after completion.
“There is no shortage of fertilisers and seeds in the state. Farmers should not pay attention to rumours. A 50‑acre Model Seed Production Centre is also being developed in Barwani,” Yadav said.
Highlighting the district’s agricultural strength, Yadav said Barwani’s cotton, banana and chilli crops are gaining recognition across the country.
He further stated that the ‘PM MITRA’ textile park in neighbouring Dhar district will benefit cotton growers, while the Mega Food Processing Cluster coming up at Rajpur will help banana farmers through better processing, storage and marketing facilities.
The Chief Minister also said the government has increased compensation for land acquired for development projects in rural areas to four times the market value and is working to provide rail connectivity to Barwani to boost trade and economic growth.
–IANS
pd/dan
