Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday, December 6, attended the much awaited agriculture event, the Millionaire Farmer of India Awards.
"I have been waiting to hear from Mr Gadkari since the beginning of the programme," said Founder and editor-in-chief of Krishi Jagran, MC Dominic.
"I am extremely happy to see that the achievements of farmers are being recognised. Our government is working on changing the economic condition of farmers," Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari said.
"Mahatma Gandhi used to say India lives in villages," he added.
He also said, "25-30 per cent village population has migrated due to economic conditions. Cotton is cheap, cloth is expensive, tomato is cheap, ketchup is expensive, fruits are cheap and juice is expensive because farmers do not get the right price of their products. Farmers do not get the appropriate price for their supply."
"Sugar, wheat, rice, corn, and beetle, all are surplus, only oil is not available which we import."
"Global availability of demand and supply need to be reckoned. Wheat and rice supply have increased lately. We need to understand the global perspective of crops, while 5-6 quintals soybeans in India."
"My wife got an award for growing 11 quintals of soybean in 1 acre. America produces 30 quintals in 1 acre, 45 quintals in Argentina, and 26 in Brazil."
"We grow a good amount of wheat and rice, but demand and supply are not managed well. In the last few years, fertilizers, and cement prices have increased but not wheat and rice. "
"The expenditure cost per acre in our country is higher."
"75 percent of nano urea is wasted when done with hands and 25 per cent is absorbed by the crop, and the scenario is the opposite when it is sprayed."
"He suggested farmers to reduce the per-acre expenditure."
"I have got seven degrees out of which four are based on agriculture science. I want to explain diversification of agriculture towards power and supply," he said.
"Wheat, rice, and sugarcane cannot make you rich," he said.
He concluded the session by presenting awards to the Millionaire Farmers of India.
