New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday urged farmers to benefit from government agricultural reforms that are not only intended to improve their lives, but also improve the agricultural sector.
He also said the MOD government continued to strengthen the foundation of the country’s agricultural sector, which was left behind due to negligent policy of the previous regime.
Tomar handles the ceremony of the Indian Agriculture Council (ICAR) Foundation and award ceremony virtually.
The Minister is the Chair of the ICAR.
On that occasion, the Minister also launched Information and Technology Communication (ICT) based on the platform ‘Kisan Sarathi’ to support agriculture at the local level with a national perspective.
Through this platform, officials at various levels can see and monitor daily activities such as farmer registration, direct calls, messages, advisors given and delayed.
“Agri reform conducted by the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring changes in the lives of farmers.
If farmers throughout the country utilize this agricultural reform will be proven revolutionary for them as an increase in the contribution of the agricultural sector in the economy,” official statement quoted Tomar as the saying at the ICAR event.
At one time, the contribution of the agricultural sector in GDP was around 50 percent, but this sector was lagging behind due to the negligent policy adopted by the government at that time, he said.
“But now since Modi became the prime minister, the foundation of the agricultural sector was constantly strengthened,” he added.
Tomar said the Prime Minister had emphasized the overall progress of the agricultural sector, including reducing the cost of farmers, paying attention to soil health, adopting micro irrigation methods, reducing the use of pesticides, and organic-natural agriculture.
“Icar has a special interest and contribution in this direction,” he added.
Said that agriculture was the mainstay of the country’s economy, Tomar said this sector had proven its relevance by showing its strength in many adverse conditions, including the current Covid crisis.
Minister of Fisheries Union, Livestock and Preparation of Milk and Vice President Icar, Parshottam Rupala spoke of the importance of farms and fisheries with agriculture.
Minister of Union Electronics, Railway and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnav assured to work for the benefit of farmers in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary emphasizes creating employment opportunities in agriculture for young people, getting reasonable prices to farmers and developing the best seed varieties.
He urged farmers to be involved in processing, packaging, and marketing their own products by joining the farmer producer organization (FPO) to increase their income.
Agriculture Minister Shobha Karandlaje said agricultural extension had a special role in providing new information, technology, and advanced information to farmers.
ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohaparna said that the research body is committed to providing higher education in agriculture, research, identification of new customary varieties, technology development, filling the gap between laboratories and direct interactions with farmers.
Sanjay Agarwal Agriculture Secretary and Electronic Secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney was also present.