New Delhi, 4 October (IANS). Union Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan participated in the Rabi workshop and agricultural advisory dialogue held in Patna during the visit to Bihar on Saturday.
Addressing agricultural scientists, advisors and farmers in the program, Chauhan said that agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy and farmers are its soul. Serving farmers is like worshiping God.
Recalling India’s agriculture change, the Union Minister said, “There was a time when India used to import red wheat from the US under the PL-480 program. Today our food stores are full of wheat and rice and India is in a position to export food grains to other countries.”
He credited this progress to the untiring efforts of the farmers and the significant contribution of agricultural advisors.
Appreciating the role of agricultural advisors, he said that without them, the achievements of research laboratories never reach the ground level. He said that the government has recognized both the need and importance of agricultural advisors and is fully committed to protect their respect and interests.
Highlighting the capacity of Bihar in pulses and maize production, the Union Minister said that India will achieve self -sufficiency in the production of pulses through pulses missions and agricultural advisors will play an important role in this effort. He also mentioned an increase in the recently sanctioned minimum support price (MSP) by the Union Cabinet.
During the program, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to increase agricultural productivity in the districts where production is low, including many districts of Bihar.
He said that under this scheme, 11 departments will work together and coordinated so that agricultural production can be increased.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s principle, the national interest paramount (nation first), Chauhan insisted that India will never compromise the interests of its farmers. He said that today India is moving forward on its terms as an independent and sovereign nation.
-IANS
PSK
