New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that this year’s Union Budget promotes the transformation of agriculture and villages. He stressed the need to bring a culture of technology to the agriculture sector as this is the century of technology.
Addressing a post-budget web seminar on ‘Agriculture and Rural Transformation’, PM Modi said that through AgriStack, the government is building a digital public infrastructure for agriculture. Under this, a digital identity, Kisan ID, is being created. So far, IDs have been created for approximately 90 million farmers.
PM Modi further stated that agriculture and Vishwakarma are the main foundations of the economy as agriculture is a vital part of India’s long-term development journey. He further stated that the government has continuously strengthened the agriculture sector. He said that through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, approximately 100 million farmers have received more than 4 lakh crore rupees.
Addressing the issue of diverse climates, PM Modi said that global markets are opening up and global demands are changing. India has diverse climates, and people should take full advantage of this, as India is rich in agro-climatic zones.
Focusing on organic food, Prime Minister Modi explained that the world is becoming increasingly health-conscious, with a growing focus on holistic healthcare and organic products. Emphasizing this shift, he urged farmers to adopt natural farming methods, stating that such approaches could open new avenues for Indian agricultural products to reach global markets.
Emphasizing the growing interest worldwide in healthy living, Prime Minister Modi noted that awareness about healthcare and organic diets is increasing. He emphasized that India should prioritize chemical-free and natural farming, noting that such methods could help the country access the growing international market for organic products.
According to him, exporting chemical-free products could create a pathway for Indian farmers to reach global consumers. He further stated that to support this shift, the government plans to create certification systems and laboratory facilities to ensure the quality and authenticity of organic products. Speaking about the mission of crop diversification, he stated that initiatives such as the National Mission on Edible Oils, the National Mission on Pulses, and the National Mission on Natural Farming are strengthening the agricultural sector.
He stated that the Union Budget has placed special emphasis on high-value agriculture. To ensure greater benefits for farmers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, special emphasis has been placed on coconut cultivation, which will directly benefit farmers in these regions.
PM Modi further stated that the budget also proposes promoting crops from the Northeast, aiming to increase opportunities for farmers and bring greater recognition to the region’s agricultural produce.
Speaking on the growth of the dairy sector, he noted that India has emerged as the world’s largest milk producer. He emphasized that further progress in this sector will require greater attention to scientific management of dairy farming.
He also emphasized the importance of animal health, noting that India has become self-sufficient in vaccine production. As part of efforts to protect animals from foot and mouth disease, he said that more than 1.25 billion vaccine doses have already been administered to animals across the country.
