New Delhi: October 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to empower farmers through innovation, investment, and market access to make them key drivers of a self-reliant and developed India. He spoke after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of projects and schemes worth over 42 thousand crore rupees in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors in New Delhi yesterday. On the occasion, the Prime Minister launched two major schemes in the agriculture sector: PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.
Prime Minister Modi said the two schemes are designed to usher in a new era of self-reliance, rural empowerment, and agricultural innovation. He highlighted the need for rapid development and reforms in the country’s agricultural system. Mr Modi emphasized that the government has introduced comprehensive reforms from seed to market for the country’s farmers. He said these reforms were structural interventions to make Indian agriculture modern, sustainable, and resilient. Highlighting the government’s achievements, Mr Modi said agricultural exports have nearly doubled and food-grains production has increased by around 90 million metric tonnes in the past eleven years.
Mr Modi said six new fertiliser companies have been set up in the country, and 25 crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers in the last 11 years. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that with the next generation GST reforms, the government has provided relief to farmers by reducing GST rates on farm equipment. He said the Prime Minister has always given priority to the interests of farmers. Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who joined the event virtually, said the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana will transform agrarian India through convergence, innovation, and inclusive growth.
PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana has been launched with an outlay of 24 thousand crore rupees to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agriculture practices, and improve irrigation facilities. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses has been launched with an outlay of 11,440 crore. It aims to enhance the productivity of pulses and expand the area under pulse cultivation. During the event, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and dedicated projects valued at over 5,450 crore rupees in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors, and laid the foundation stone for additional projects worth around 815 crore rupees.
