Jaipur, Feb 18 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said the state government was making sincere efforts to get suggestions from farmers ahead of the Budget session. Chairing a pre-budget meeting, which was attended by over 30 representatives of the farming community, Gehlot said it was necessary to ensure more progress in the field of agriculture. "Agriculture and farmers have always been the top priority of the state government," he said. The chief minister said the state had recorded the highest ever production of 235.6 lac MT of foodgrains in 2010-11, which contributed 22 per cent to the state's GDP. He said the state was honoured with 'Krishi Karman Award' by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, having cash prize of Rs 1 crore and citation for the maximum pulse production in the country for 2010-11. He said the future of the state was linked to water and that farmers should be made aware about the importance of drip irrigation system. Agriculture Minister Shri Harjiram Burdak and Rajasthan Kisan Ayog Chairman Shri Narayan Singh also addressed the meeting. Energy Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, Revenue Minister Hemaram, Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board Prof V S Vyas, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) C K Mathew were among others present in the meeting.
