New Delhi, Sep 19 (FN Agency) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday called for developing an integrated approach towards rural economy to ensure income security for farmers. Lauding farmers for not letting the country down even during the trying times of COVID-19 pandemic, he emphasised that ‘our objective should be the overall improvement of rural economy and the well-being of rural society’. Addressing a gathering after releasing five volumes of ‘Sir Chhotu Ram: Writings and Speeches’ brought out by the Haryana Academy of History and Culture in Gurugram today, the Vice President reiterated the need to modernise agriculture and adopt best practices to make it more sustainable and remunerative.
‘Building on our past experiences, we must regularly revisit and renew our strategies on agriculture and rural development and introduce new technologies as part of our efforts to build a self-reliant India,’ he added. Terming agriculture as our basic culture, he said, ‘Our villages not only produce food grains for us but also inculcate in us our Samskaras, our values, and traditions.’ He also said agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and the country cannot progress ‘if our villages remain underdeveloped and backward’.