On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a webinar on the positive impact of Union Budget 2022 in the Agriculture sector and emphasized converting cooperatives into successful business enterprises.
The Webinar was focused on ‘Smart Agriculture’- Strategies for implementation. The event was not only attended by the Concerned Union Ministers, representatives of state governments, farmers but also by scores of co-operators including NCUI President Dileepbhai Sanghani, Sahakar Bharati Chief D N Thakur, Nafcub President Jyotindra Mehta, RBI Central Director Satish Marathe, and others.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said, “India’s cooperative sector is very old and vibrant. The sector is having a big role whether it be sugar mills, fertilizer factories, dairies, loan arrangements, purchase of food grains, the participation of the cooperative sector is huge”.
“Our government has also created a new ministry to strengthen the sector and the main objective is to help farmers in a big way. There is a huge scope for making vibrant business entities in co-ops. We have to work on how to turn cooperatives into a successful business enterprise”, he added.
The Prime Minister stressed that Artificial Intelligence is going to completely change the trend related to agriculture and farming in the 21st century. The increasing use of drones in farming is part of this change. “Drone technology will be available on a scale only when we promote agri-startups. In the last 3-4 years, more than 700 Agri Startups have been created in the country”, he added.
The prime minister elaborated on the seven ways in which the Budget proposes to make agriculture modern and smart. Firstly, the target is to undertake natural farming on mission mode within 5 km on both the banks of the Ganges. Secondly, modern technology in agriculture and horticulture will be made available to the farmers. Thirdly, emphasis has been laid on strengthening the Mission Oil Palm to reduce the import of edible oil.
“Fourthly, new logistics arrangements will be made through the PM Gati-Shakti plan for the transportation of agricultural products. The fifth solution in the Budget is better organization of agri-waste management and increasing farmers’ income through waste to energy solutions”, he added.
Sixthly, more than 1.5 lakh post offices will provide services like regular banking so that farmers are not troubled. Seventh, Agri research and education syllabus will be changed as per demands of modern times with regard to skill development and human resource development.
The webinar was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the sectorial themes were allotted to the respective Ministries including the Ministry of Cooperation. The theme was ‘Sahakarita se Samridhi’ and this session was chaired by Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Parshottam Rupala where NCUI President Dileep Sanghani, Sahakar Bharati Patron Satish Marathe, and other co-operators spoke at length.
