Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Jun 21: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said that the agricultural budget which the centre plans to table will help farmers to double their income by 2022. At the same time, he lauded farmers for making India self sufficient in food production. Modi interacted with farmers of India spread over 600 districts via video conferencing facility through 'Namo app' on Wednesday June 20.

As part of this, the video conference was screened at Zonal Agricultual Research Station, Brahmavar, here on Wednesday, June 20. The farmers watched this programme with immense interest.

Happiness of farmers who had gathered at the agricultural research station at Chandurayanahalli, Magadi taluk, knew no bounds when the Prime Minister addressed Kamalamma from Mayaganahalli in Ramanagar taluk in person and spoke to her in Kannada. Kamalamma spoke to the Prime Minister in Kannada, and buoyed by this, a few more farmers who had assembled there too conversed with Modi in Kannada.

Programme co-ordinator, Dr Dhananjay, said to media, "It is a good initiative undertaken by the central government. It will help the farmers to understand the pet schemes and programmes of central government. Nine villages of Udupi have been taken under Krishi Vikas scheme. Through this, they will encourage the farmers to use organic compost instead of chemical fertilizers. They will educate 100 more farmers in using organic compost. Modi’s interaction programme will help to build confidence among them."

Highlights of the programme

"The government is working towards ensuring that income of hardworking farmers of the country will go up 100 percent by 2022. For the first time we have decided that minimum support price for farm products will be 1.5 times the input cost of farmers. The country has seen spurt in production of pulses, fruits, vegetables and milk," he noted.

The NDA government is working towards getting good price for crops, through value additions to the produce. There is need to bring many changes in the way agriculture is conducted.

As a result of blue revolution, pisciculture production has shot up by 26 %. The central government is focusing on connecting the farmers world markets through ‘Beej Se Bazar Tak’ programme. He said that the government proposes to create a system which benefits farmers from the time of sowing seeds till selling the products in markets. He acknowledged the contributions made by agriculturists of India towards improving food safety. He pointed out that his government has allocated a budget of Rs 2,12,000 crore to agriculture as against Rs 1,21,000 crore earmarked by the previous UPA regime.

Neem coating to urea has benefitted the farmers immensely. Through e-NAM, farmers can now directly sell their produce in the markets. This results in avoiding the role of middleman and thereby improve farmers income. Everyone should maintain sanctity of their land by treating land as goddess, without using materials which spoil its potential in the long run, Modi said.