India, Jan. 26 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was the special guest at the parade held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on the occasion of 77th Republic Day, today interacted with farmers from different parts of the country at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Pusa, New Delhi. Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Bhagirath Choudhary and Shri Ramnath Thakur also participated in the programme.
Extending Republic Day greetings to farmers, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that India is the mother of democracy. He added that agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, and farmers are its soul. Farmer brothers and sisters, who have come from every corner of the country on the path of duty, have witnessed India's prowess and strength, and today the entire world is witnessing India's growing power. Today, India speaks face to face.
Mr. Chouhan said that this year, three farmers were also honored with the Padma Award, a symbol of the respect and contribution of the country's farmers. He said that serving farmers as Agriculture Minister is like worshipping God for him. Mr. Chouhan said that the government has taken several decisions in the interest of farmers. He emphasized that efforts are being made to increase production and provide fair prices. Mr. Chouhan stated that the government is now fully procuring pulses. He added that the government is also working to include crop damage caused by wild animals or due to water or floods in the crop insurance scheme. Furthermore, to protect farmers' interests, import duty of up to 30% has been imposed on pulses imported from abroad so that our farmers can receive a fair price for their pulses.
The Union Minister said that today India ranks first in rice production in the world, surpassing China. This is a significant achievement. Mr. Chauhan informed that the minimum export price system imposed on rice exports has been abolished so that farmers can export their rice easily. Its positive results are beginning to be seen, and this time farmers are receiving good prices for their rice.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the "Developed Agriculture Resolution Campaign" will be relaunched. ICAR has formed 52 teams to implement suggestions received last year, with the goal of increasing production and productivity by providing scientific support to farmers.
He said that work is underway to create 'Farmer IDs' for farmers to simplify paperwork. Under the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme, if the claim amount is not paid within 22 days, farmers will be paid 12 percent interest.
Mr. Chauhan stated that the government is introducing the Pesticide Act and Seed Bill in the upcoming Parliament session, which will further tighten punitive provisions. This will include fines of up to Rs.30 lakh.
He stated that the government is committed to promoting integrated farming and that the Union Agriculture Ministry is committed to making even small-holding farming profitable. He stated that farming will only be abandoned once it becomes a profitable profession.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Ram Nath Thakur, said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Indian farmer brothers and sisters are making unprecedented progress. Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Bhagirath Chaudhary, said that remarkable work is being done in the agricultural sector, taking the Prime Minister's mantra of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas" as a pledge. He said that the government is promoting natural farming and organic farming and is working towards making the country a developed nation by making farmers prosperous and happy.
At the event, Mrs. Anita Kumari, a farmer from Haryana who has done exemplary work in the field of natural farming, and Mr. Rajesh Pal, a farmer from Madhya Pradesh, presented the farmers' problems and suggestions to the Union Minister. Mr. Ganesh Kumar Gupta, a farmer from Bihar, also shared his views on behalf of the farmers.
Union Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi and ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat were also present on the occasion.
Disclaimer: The original story of this translated version is available on Press Information Bureau.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
