While interacting with farmers from over 600 districts via a video conferencing on June 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government will double the farm income by 2022.
During the sixth such interaction, PM Modi lauded farmers for making India self-sufficient in agricultural sector over the decades.
“We are working towards ensuring that the income of our hardworking farmers doubles by 2022. For that we are facilitating proper assistance wherever required. We have faith in the farmers of India,” the Prime Minister said.
He also added that cutting input cost, fair price for the crop, preventing the produce from rotting and creating alternate sources of income are the four key areas for raising farm income.
“Our effort is to provide farmers assistance at all stage of agriculture at the time of sowing, after sowing and at the time of harvesting,” he said.
He also said that the budget for the agriculture sector has been doubled to Rs 2.12 lakh crore during first four years of his government.
Highlights
Government is making efforts to ensure that farmers get adequate price for their produce.
The budget for 2018-19 fiscal has taken steps to provide farmers a price equivalent to 150 percent of their cost of production
Soil health cards are being provided to help farmers better understand soil nutrient status of and advice them on the dosage of fertilizers.
Provision for loans is being made available to farmers to help them procure good quality seeds.
Online platform e-NAM has been started to ensure farmers get the right price for their crops and to eliminate middlemen.
The country is witnessing record foodgrain production of 280 million tonnes as compared to an average of 250 million tonnes between 2010 and 2014.
Pulses production has increased 10.5 percent.
