India, March 6 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the third post Budget Webinar today, focusing on " Agriculture and Rural Transformation ". Reflecting on the previous sessions regarding technology and economic growth, the Prime Minister noted that stakeholders had provided valuable cooperation during the budget formulation. "Now, after the budget, it is equally important that the country reaps the benefits of its full potential, and your suggestions in this direction and this webinar is thus important ", Shri Modi emphasised.
The Prime Minister highlighted that agriculture remains the mainstay of the Indian economy and a strategic pillar for the nation's long-term developmental journey. Shri Modi emphasized several programs, such as the 'PM Kisan Samman Nidhi', and 'Minimum Support Price (MSP)' reforms that provide farmers with 1.5 times returns. " Our government has continuously strengthened the agriculture sector", Shri Modi remarked.
Providing data on the success of existing schemes, the Prime Minister noted that 10 crore farmers have received over Rs.4 lakh crore as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and nearly Rs.2 lakh crore in insurance claims have been settled under 'PM Fasal Bima Yojana'. Shri Modi also noted that the institutional credit coverage has become more than 75%. "Such numerous efforts have reduced the risks for farmers and provided them with basic economic security," Shri Modi affirmed.
On record production in food grains and pulses, the Prime Minister called for infusing the sector with new energy as the 21st century's second quarter begins. Highlighting that renewed efforts have been made in this direction in this year's Union Budget, Shri Modi expressed confidence that the webinar's deliberations would fast-track the implementation of budget provisions. "I am confident that the discussion among you in this webinar and the resulting suggestions will help in implementing the budget provisions on the ground as quickly as possible", Shri Modi asserted.
The Prime Minister highlighted the shifting global demand and the necessity of making Indian agriculture export-oriented. He urged the full utilization of India's diverse climate to increase productivity and export strength. "In this webinar, it is essential to have maximum discussion on making our farming export-oriented.", Shri Modi remarked,
Focusing on high-value agriculture, the Prime Minister detailed budget proposals for region-specific promotion of crops like cocoa, cashew, and sandalwood. Shri Modi also highlighted the budget proposal of promotion of Agarwood in the North East,and Temperate Nut crops in the Himalayan states.The Prime Minister noted that export oriented production would lead to rural employment through processing and value addition. "If we scale high-value agriculture together, it will transform agriculture into a globally competitive sector",Shri Modi asserted.
The Prime Minister called for a unified approach involving experts, industry, and farmers to meet global branding and quality standards. He stressed the importance of setting clear goals to connect local farmers with global markets. "Discussions on all these topics will further enhance the importance of this webinar.", Shri Modi remarked.
Turning to the fisheries sector, the Prime Minister stated that India is the world's second-largest fish producer. Shri Modi further highlighted that while approximately 4.5 lakh tonnes of fish are currently produced in our various reservoirs and ponds, there exists a potential for an additional 20 lakh tonnes of production. "Fisheries can become a major platform for export growth.", Shri Modi remarked.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
