Attending a programme on the ‘Expansion of Horticulture Value Chain in India’ in Pune on Tuesday, organized by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Union Minister Naredra Singh Tomar said farmers do a lot of sacrifice to feed the countrymen and farming and securing the borders are equally important vocations, which enriches the soul of the country.
People related to the horticulture field including farmers, FPOs, start-ups and bankers were present on the occasion. If the villages are prosperous and self-reliant, then the country itself will become prosperous and self-sufficientM, said Tomar. He said that the merchant-entrepreneur should give the maximum price of agricultural produce to the farmer. This will not only make our farmers prosperous but also inspire the next generation to do farming.
Tomar said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promoted indigenous technology in agriculture and today youth, retired employees, and people associated with the corporate sector are also coming forward for farming. People’s interest in organic and natural farming is also increasing. There has been a record export of agricultural products worth Rs. 4 lakh crore, he underlined.
To promote farming and to raise the standard of living of farmers, schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of Rs 1 lakh crore, Digital Agriculture Mission, Drone Technology, e-NAM, PM irrigation are being implemented.
For small farmers, the government has started the Horticulture Mission and scheme of FPOs. Efforts are being made that small farmers should do farming together so that they get maximum benefits. By uniting in the FPO and cluster system, the farmers will not have to go to the traders, but the traders will be forced to come to them to buy the produce.
He said that along with the production of food grains, the horticulture sector, especially the cultivation of
vegetables and flowers, plays an important role in increasing the income of the farmers. Tomar said that it is necessary to pay attention to the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and millets because only food grains will not work for the nutrients.
Maharashtra Agriculture Ministe Abdul Sattar and State Horticulture Minister Sandipanrao Bhumre, Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Additional Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi, Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, Horticulture Commissioner Prabhat Kumar, Maharashtra Agriculture Secretary Eknath Navale were present on this occasion. Tomar honoured the farmers and inaugurated the Horticulture Exhibition.
