Jaipur, April 11 -- Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday said that strengthening farmers is essential for the progress of both the state and the country, asserting that the government is committed to building a robust agricultural ecosystem to enhance farm incomes. Addressing the curtain-raiser of the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM 2026), the chief minister announced that the three-day event will be held in Jaipur from May 23 to 25, where farmers from across the state will be exposed to modern farming techniques and global agricultural practices. He said the platform will bring together farmers, scientists, investors and policymakers to deliberate on ways to empower the farming community and promote innovation in agriculture. To ensure wider outreach, Sharma said awareness campaigns would be launched at the gram panchayat level from April 15, with special outreach vehicles disseminating information about farmer welfare schemes. These will also carry suggestion boxes to gather feedback directly from farmers. Highlighting Rajasthan's agricultural strengths, the chief minister said the state ranks first in the production of millets, mustard, oilseeds, barley and guar, second in moong and groundnut, and third in soybean. He urged farmers to adopt scientific farming practices, minimise the use of chemical fertilisers and rely on soil testing to preserve long-term soil fertility. Emphasising water conservation, he also advocated the use of modern irrigation techniques such as sprinkler systems. Sharma said micro-irrigation systems have been installed across 480,000 hectares, while over 12,476 water storage structures and nearly 32,918 km of irrigation pipelines have been developed. He added that under the Mukhyamantri Mangla Pashu Bima Yojana, free insurance has been provided to over 120,000 livestock. Mobile veterinary services, including 536 vehicles, have treated nearly 6 million animals, benefiting over 1.5 million livestock owners. The chief minister also highlighted financial support measures, noting that under the Mukhyamantri Dugdh Utpadak Sambal Yojana, dairy farmers are being given an incentive of Rs.5 per litre....