Chennai: The country has seen a surge of development in the agriculture sector leading to a decline in imports of food grains and Tamil Nadu too has joined the growth graph in the Indian agriculture scenario, Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh has said.
Encouraged over the enhanced productivity in agriculture pegged at 284.83 million metric tons and horticulture at an astonishing 307 MMT, thus indicating self-sufficiency, the Centre has increased the import duty on agriculture products. The country has seen more development during the last four-year rule of the BJP under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took several significant decisions to improve the status of the farmers, he said.
“We are investing more money in various initiatives and doubling the farmers’ income. Compared to the situation that prevailed during the UPA regime, the budgetary allocation for the agriculture department was enhanced by several times,” he said on Monday. Addressing select media persons here Mr. Radha Mohan accusing the Congress-led UPA regime of having been inactive, said had the Congress government acted swiftly then the farmers across the country would have benefitted.
“For instance, the UPA government failed to implement the recommendations of the National Commission for Farmers in 2006 and as a result agriculture became a disaster. It was the Modi government that gave effect to the recommendations of the Dalwai Committee, constituted for doubling farmers’ income, and ensured a turnaround,” he insisted.
Among the notable farmer-friendly initiatives, which helped improve the lot of farmers was the e-national marketing to provide electronic linkage to the Agricultural Marketing Societies. Tamil Nadu has been provided Rs.18.20 crore under this programme. Long term irrigation programme, micro irrigation, fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure, organic farming and agricultural mechanisation, State Disaster Relief Fund were among the various sectors in which Tamil Nadu too benefitted.
Centre committed to ensureremunerative price for farmers
Earlier, speaking at a function organised here to honour noted agriculture scientist Prof. M. S. Swaminathan for receiving the world agriculture prize, Mr. Radha Mohan said for the first time in 2014 – 15 the Centre had launched a comprehensive scheme to promote organic farming in the country.
Under this, the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is being implemented and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region is also being implemented as a central scheme for the northeast region considering the possibility of organic farming there.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure remunerative price to farmers for their produce. “The goal of integrating 585 mandis with e-nam has been achieved till March this year. By 2019 – 20, additional 415 mandis will be integrated with e-nam. Besides, the government has started the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana from Kharif 2016 to eliminate the risks associated with agriculture,” he said.
The Union Minister expressed the hope that under the leadership of Prof. Swaminathan agriculture and food security would continue to be sustainable in the coming years in India and the government will be successful in doubling the income of the farmers within the given target.
