New Delhi, Feb 24 (FN Agency) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged stakeholders in agricultural sector to execute new provisions from the day Budget rolls out on April 1 this year. “We must aim that from 1st April 2022, the day when the budget will roll out, that we are prepared to successfully execute it,” he said addressing a webinar on budget announcements in the agriculture sector. “I request people to roll out and start executing the new provisions introduced in the Budget 2022-23 for our farmers with the help of startups, banking sector, investors, agriculture universities and other key stakeholders to strengthen the Indian agriculture sector and benefit our farmers,” he said. The PM said the agriculture budget has increased manifold in the past six years. “In the last seven years, we have introduced many schemes to enhance the smooth functioning of ‘beej se bazar tak’. It has worked towards scaling and improving facilities for small farmers in the animal husbandry with the help of KCC, micro irrigation and we will continue to bring more reforms to improve Indian agricultural sector,” said.
The PM suggested that in the agricultural sector, this year’s budget has focused on promoting natural farming in mission mode along 5 km of the stretch along the Ganges, enhancing agriculture and horticulture practices, reducing imports of oilseeds, transportation logistics through PM Gatishakti, agri-waste management, 1.5 lakh post office offering regular banking services, agricultural research and skill development etc. The PM said on this day, the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi was launched 3 years ago and the scheme has become a huge support to the small farmers of the country today. About Rs 2 lakh crore have been given to 11 crore farmers of the country, he said. “In the last seven years, we have created many such new systems and improved the old systems. Farm loans for farmers have also been increased by two and a half times in seven years. He said the syllabus related to agricultural research and education will be changed in accordance with modern times accommodating skill development and human resource development in the sector.
The PM urged the corporate sector to come forward to brand and promote the millets of India. “The year 2023 is the International Year of Millets. Our corporate sector should come forward, branding and promoting the millets of India. The big missions that we have in other countries should also organise seminars in their countries and make the people aware of how good the millets of India are,” he said. He further said the corporate sector can come forward to manufacture equipment that can help small farmers in boosting their produce and supply. “I request our microfinancing institutes to come forward and financially assist the agri startups,” he said. Our aim should be to promote the diverse range of Natural juices produced in India and take it to every nook and corners of other countries with a Make In India approach, he said. Modi said India is making a lot of progress in the fields of food processing and ethanol blending. “We are moving with the target of 20% blending of ethanol compared to 1 or 2% blending done before,” he said. The PM said that the government has set up the target of increasing the edible oil production by 50% in the next three to four years. He said there is a lot of emphasis on Per Drop More Crop by the government which is the need of the hour. Modi said Artificial Intelligence is going to change the trade of farming and farming in the 21st century. “The greater use of farmer drones in the country’s farming sector is part of the change being brought.
Drone technology will be available on a scale only when we promote agri startups,” he said. Talking about measure to settle the issue of Parali, the PM said, “It is equally important to manage agri-residue, also known as stubble, some new measures have been initiated in this Budget for this, which will also reduce carbon emission and also help farmers earn,” he said. The PM said that India’s cooperative sector is quite vibrant. “Be it is sugar mills, fertilizer factories, dairy, credit arrangements, procurement of foodgrains. Our government has also created a new ministry on the subject,” he said. The PM also urged the stakeholders to focus on packaging and branding to boost the sale of organic products by Indian farmers.