The Madhya Pradesh government’s declaration of 2026 as Farmer Welfare Year has drawn fierce criticism from Congress leader Jitu Patwari, who labels it a desperate bid to conceal agrarian collapse through hype. Speaking in Bhopal, the state Congress chief tore into CM Mohan Yadav’s budget presentation, calling it a sham that ignores farmers’ deepening woes.
Patwari laid bare the contradictions: While officials boast of agricultural growth, farmers’ net incomes fail to keep pace with escalating expenses. ‘Diesel, manure, seeds, pesticides, and power tariffs have surged year after year, yet assured MSP procurement is a distant dream,’ he said. Delayed payments after harvests, storage shortages, and depressed market rates push cultivators toward exploitative loans.
Accusing the administration of reneging on doubling incomes, Patwari spotlighted the suicide epidemic ravaging farming communities. Referencing NCRB reports, he pressed for accountability on cases from late 2023 to early 2026, and specifics on relief measures like debt waivers, family aid, and counseling services.
True welfare, according to Patwari, demands action over announcements—enforceable MSP laws, better irrigation networks, interest-free credit, prompt compensations, and disaster management reforms. ‘Stop the PR blitz and start delivering,’ he implored. Congress remains committed to amplifying farmers’ voices in streets and assemblies alike, vowing relentless advocacy against systemic failures.