Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on March 17, 2018, visited the Krishi Unnati Mela at IARI Mela Ground, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. He visited the theme pavilion and the Jaivik Mela Kumbh besides laying the foundation for 25 Krishi Vigyan Kendras. He also launched an e-marketing portal for organic products. He gave away the Krishi Karman Awards and the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Krishi Protsahan Puraskar.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that such Unnati Melas play a key role in paving the way for New India. He said that today, he has the opportunity to simultaneously speak to two sentinels of New India – farmers and scientists. He said farmers and scientists have to work together to transform agriculture. The Prime Minister specially mentioned the State of Meghalaya, which received an award for its achievements in agriculture, in the period under review, according to a PIB release.
Apreciateing the hard work of the farmers, the PM said that today there is record production of foodgrains, pulses, fruits and vegetables, and milk. He said that there are important challenges in agriculture, which reduce the farmer’s income, and increase his losses and expenditure. He said the Government is working with a holistic approach to deal with these challenges. He said the aim remains to double farmers’ incomes, and make the farmers’ lives easier.
The Prime Minister said that more than 11 crore soil health cards had been distributed so far. Hundred percent neem coating of Urea has also resulted in lowering expenditure on fertilizer besides raising productivity. He said that through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, premiums have been lowered, capping on insurance removed, and claims amounts disbursed to farmers have gone up. He said the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana envisions water for every farm and Rs 80,000 crore are being spent to complete pending irrigation projects.
PM Modi said Operation Greens, announced in the recent budget, will be beneficial for farmers growing fruits and vegetables, especially Tomato, Onion and Potato. He said that the Union Government has decided that for all notified crops, MSP will be at least one and a half times the cost. He said that for this purpose, the cost will include elements such as labour, rent for machinery, cost of seeds and fertilizers, revenue being given to State Government, interest on working capital, and rent of leased land.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of Farmer Producer Organizations. He said Farmer Producer Organizations would be given relief on income tax on the lines of cooperative societies. He said a new chapter in Agriculture Marketing Reform is being added in this programme, with the e-marketing portal for organic products. The PM said that along with the Green Revolution and White Revolution, we must stress on Organic Revolution, Water Revolution, Blue Revolution, and Sweet Revolution.
The Prime Minister said crop residue burning has harmful effects and if the crop residue is instead returned to the soil through machines, it will have beneficial effects.