Agricultural development and farmer welfare are our top priorities. It is our resolve to bring happiness and prosperity in the life of the farmer, who is the architect of our life through food. We will make every possible effort to fulfill this resolve. We have prepared a six-point strategy to increase the income of farmers. Increasing production, reducing the cost of farming, ensuring fair prices for production, providing adequate relief amount in natural disasters, diversification of agriculture and promoting natural farming are its important aspects.
To increase production and reduce costs, good seeds are most important, which can be capable of better production even in less water and adverse weather. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated 109 new varieties of such seeds to the nation and farmers.
The agriculture scenario has changed rapidly in the last 10 years. The challenge of increasing productivity has arisen amidst problems like global warming and environmental imbalance. To deal with this challenge, our target is to develop 1500 new varieties of climate-friendly crops in the next five years. At present, the welfare of farmers is possible only through science.
I am proud of our agricultural scientists who are developing climate-friendly varieties. I have full faith that the innovations being made in agriculture will ensure agriculture and farmer welfare. Being a farmer, I understand very well how important good seeds are for good production. If the seeds are improved and suitable to the nature of soil and weather, then there will be unprecedented increase in production.
PM Modi understood this and guided to work in this direction with a broad vision. Diversity is the specialty of Indian agriculture. Here the nature of farming changes at a short distance. For example, farming in the plains is different and farming in the mountains is different. Keeping all these differences and diversities in mind, 109 new varieties of crops have been released.
Out of these, 69 varieties of farming and 40 varieties of horticulture have been dedicated to the nation. The Modi government is fully committed to make India a global nutrition hub and promote Sri Anna.
It is our resolve that the hard work of the farmer is properly evaluated and he gets a fair price for his crops, for this we are buying at the minimum support price. Increasing the income of farmers is our priority and along with increasing production, India has also been concerned about safe production for the health of the human body and the soil. Today India is witnessing a new green revolution. Our food providers are also becoming energy and fuel providers. With the efforts of Modi ji, along with agriculture, animal husbandry, beekeeping, medicinal farming, flower-fruit farming and other related sectors are being strengthened.
Agriculture and farmers were never a priority of the previous governments. Whereas under the leadership of Modi ji, there has been unprecedented progress in the agriculture sector. In the year 2013-14, the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture was Rs 27 thousand 663 crore, which has increased to Rs 1 lakh 32 thousand 470 crore in 2024-25. This budget is only of the Agriculture Department.
There is a separate budget for agriculture related areas and fertilizer subsidy. The Modi government is providing urea and DAP to farmers at cheap rates. The government is giving a subsidy of about Rs 2,100 to farmers on urea while a subsidy of Rs 1083 is being given on a bag of DAP. The farmer has become self-reliant and empowered with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. The crop insurance scheme is also a safety shield for farmers in case of crop loss.
To empower the farmers, the Modi government took every decision from seed to market, which makes farming easier for farmers. It reduces their difficulties and increases profits. In this series, agriculture related infrastructure is being developed through Agri Infra Fund of Rs one lakh crore. More than 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country are connecting farmers and science. Our mothers and sisters in remote areas are also being connected to technology through Namo Drone Didi Yojana. In the first phase of training Krishi Sakhis, 35 thousand Krishi Sakhis have been trained so far.
PM Modi's vision is that India should become self-reliant in agriculture. Work is being done in this direction as well by making strategies. In the next five years, we will create 100 export-oriented horticulture clusters at a cost of Rs 18,000 crore. More than 1500 mandis will be integrated to improve access to mandis for farmers. Along with this, we are starting the oilseed mission at a cost of Rs 6,800 crore. There are also preparations to create vegetable production clusters. This will provide new markets and better prices to small farmers for vegetables, fruits and other produce. The government has also resolved that the entire purchase of tur, urad and masoor among pulse crops will be done at MSP.
It is mentioned in Yajurveda that 'Annanam Pataye Namah Kshetraanam Pataye Namah' which means salutations to the lord of food and the lord of fields, the food providers. It is also mentioned in Krishi Parashar - food is life, food is strength and food is the means of all purposes. The existence of this country is incomplete without farmers. That is why farmers have been saluted in our ancient scriptures as well. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and the farmer is its soul. For us, serving the farmer is the worship of God.
Today, with the long-term vision of Prime Minister Modi ji and the thinking of all-round, all-encompassing, inclusive and holistic development, India and Indian agriculture are constantly moving forward and I have full faith that our farmer brothers and sisters will also become self-reliant in the Amrit Kaal of independence and will keep filling the food reserves of the country along with becoming prosperous.
(The author is the Minister of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Government of India- Shivraj Singh Chouhan)
