Raisen, April 11 Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that agricultural road maps, providing advisory based on agro-climatic conditions and linking farmers with central schemes, will be launched for four districts in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, as part of a larger initiative to cover all states.
The road maps for Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, and Dewas will be unveiled in the presence of the state agriculture minister and secretary, Chouhan told reporters on the sidelines of the Unnat Krishi Mahotsav here.
"We will urge them to implement it," he said.
The minister said that these agricultural road maps were needed because farmers were often unaware of scientific farming methods and the schemes available to them. The advisory, he said, would provide comprehensive information – from "seed to market" – across different agro-climatic zones.
Since agriculture is a state subject, the road maps are being prepared by scientists in consultation with the respective state governments. Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh have already expressed interest, Chouhan said, adding that preparations for those states were underway.
On farm mechanization, Chouhan said that the government's focus went beyond individual machinery subsidies and aimed at building a network of Custom Hiring Centers and Farm Machinery Banks at the village level.
These centers are being established through Panchayats, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), farmer groups, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), allowing small and marginal farmers to access modern equipment on rent.
Under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), financial assistance of 40 to 80 per cent of the project cost is being provided, with support available for projects worth up to Rs 30 lakh, he said.
Responding to a query on whether Custom Hiring Centers could be set up using MPLADS funds – similar to community gyms, Chouhan said that MPLADS was designed for permanent assets such as roads, schools, and healthcare facilities and could not be used for centers that operate on a rental and operational model.
"Custom Hiring Centers are being promoted through specific agricultural mechanization schemes," he said, adding that this approach upheld both policy intent and transparency.
He said that MPs and MLAs could play a key role by facilitating approvals, monitoring implementation, and advocating for proposals from farmer groups, FPOs, and Panchayats before state and central governments.
On private sector participation, the minister said that companies and entrepreneurs have already entered the space in several states. The government, he added, was working to encourage a public-private partnership model involving FPOs, Panchayats, and private players to run such centers and ensure timely, affordable services to farmers.
On climate change, Chouhan said that scientific institutions were developing crop varieties resilient to extreme heat, waterlogging, and water-scarce conditions, and that rapid dissemination to farmers was underway.