India Needs Post-Harvest Revolution, says PM Modi

It’s time to expand the Agriculture sector to “a global market for processed food,” said Prime Minister Modi.  

Continuously working for the welfare of farmers and improvement in the agriculture sector, Prime Minister has taken one more step. On Sunday PM said that India needs a Post-harvest revolution or Food processing revolution and value addition in 21^st century.  

PM Modi said, “Today, it is the demand of time that the farmer’s produce in the country gets more and more options in the market. The nation is experiencing the loss it has incurred from limiting the farmers only to the produce. We must expand the country’s agriculture sector into a global market for processed food.” 

Adding to the need and importance of expanding the country’s agriculture sector into a global market, PM said, “India of 21^st century needs post-harvest or food processing revolution and value addition amid increasing agriculture production. If we would have done this 2-3 decades back, it would have been so good for the country and farmers of the country.” PM added that, till date, mostly the public sector has contributed to Research & Development in the farming sector. But, now is the time to increase private sector participation in it. Contract farming is being practiced in India for the long time in one or another way, but now is the time to try not just to make contract farming a business, but also to fulfill their (contractor) responsibility towards the land on which it is practiced.  

“Government has increased agriculture credit target to Rs. 16.50 lakh crore and animal husbandry, dairying, and fisheries sectors have been given priority. Rural infrastructure fund has been increased to Rs. 40,000 crore and micro-irrigation fund is doubled,” said PM Modi. 

To make small and marginal farmers the driving force of the rural economy, the government has taken various decisions for the benefit of 12 crore small and marginal farmers.