Medak (Telangana), Dec 26 (FN Agency) Vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday called upon the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), other research institutes, and universities to study how best the farmers could add value to their produce. Addressing the farmers at Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Tuniki near here, Dhankhar said agriculture was not bringing transformative changes though there were agriculture research institutes and scientists in the country. Farmers must market their produce, and the younger generation of the farming fraternity should be involved in agricultural and marketing activities, he said. Dhankhar, impressed by the organic agriculture practices being carried out by the farmers in Medak district, said he would soon host them in New Delhi for three days.
Saying that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared December 23 as National Farmer’s Day in 2001 honouring former Prime Minister Charan Singh, the Vice President said that the union government is going to celebrate the silver jubilee celebrations of the declaration next year by involving 730 Krishi Vikas Kendras, 150 ICAR institutes, Universities, and other institutes. Dhankhar said the officials must ensure the fruits of welfare schemes reach the farmers’ fraternity. Everyone should play a role in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat-2047, Dhankhar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the vocal for local slogan inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Swadeshi Movement. India will emerge as the third-biggest economy by overcoming Japan and Germany soon and the farming fraternity must also contribute to India’s growth, he added.