New Delhi, 19 May (IANS). Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced on Monday that India’s food production has increased by more than 106 lakh tonnes to 1,663.91 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, which is 6.83 percent more than the same period of the previous year.
Chauhan said in the conference, “The total food production of the country in 2023-24 was around 1,557.6 lakh tonnes. I am happy to tell you that it has increased to 1,663.91 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.”
He said, “Rabi crop production in 2023-24 was 1,600.06 lakh tonnes, which has now increased to 1,645.27 lakh tonnes.”
The Union Minister said that the goal of his ministry is not only to meet the country’s food requirements, but also to make India the world’s food store.
Chauhan gave the slogan of “one nation, one agriculture and one team” to make the farmers of the country self -reliant and increase their income in the Kisan Sammelan ‘Krishi Samvad’ held in Nagpur on Sunday.
Chauhan said that during the 15 -day campaign running from 29 May to 12 June, agricultural scientists will go to the villages and tell the farmers about the methods of sustainable farming and plan for the kharif season.
Under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), 16,000 agricultural scientists will visit the villages in association with agricultural extension officers and educate farmers about new seed varieties and new agricultural practices.
He further said that the government is committed to bridge the gap between laboratories and fields.
The Union Minister said that the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR, Center for Agricultural Sciences and all agricultural institutes should work as a team. If all institutions are connected, goals are set, roadmap is made then miracle can happen in agriculture.
Another big announcement, the Union Minister said that the central government will set up a national level laboratory in Pune under the clean plant program. This laboratory will research the original species of plants.
Emphasizing on increasing agricultural production, Chauhan said that the clean plant program is being run to ensure pure and disease -free nursery. To increase production, farmers should understand the need for good quality seeds, soil testing and reduction in production costs.
-IANS
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