Modi Urges Farmers to Boost Pulse Production

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major agriculture schemes worth Rs 35,440 billion to increase pulses production and boost the growth of the agriculture sector in 100 underperforming districts. In his speech, the Prime Minister urged farmers to increase production and criticized previous Congress governments for ignoring the agriculture sector and weakening the farm ecosystem.

Besides the Prime Minister’s Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission, Mr. Modi inaugurated and dedicated national projects worth over Rs 5,450 billion in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing sectors. It also laid the foundation stone of additional projects worth approximately 815 billion rupees.

Addressing a special Krishi program at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in the national capital, the Prime Minister reiterated the historic contribution of Indian farmers in making the country self-sufficient in food production and urged them to lead the way in building a developed India.

Mr Modi urged farmers not only to work towards self-sufficiency but also to target the global market by growing export-oriented crops that could reduce imports and increase India’s agricultural exports. The Prime Minister asserted that Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission will play vital roles in this journey.

Underlining that the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission are designed to usher in a new era of self-reliance, rural empowerment and agricultural innovation that will directly benefit millions of farmers across the country, Mr. Modi said: “The government of India will invest more than Rs 35,000 crore in these initiatives, which will double the It will reflect your unwavering determination. to increase farmers’ incomes and ensure food and nutrition security for the country.”

Mr. Modi emphasized the central role that agriculture and farming have always played in India’s development journey. He attacked the previous Congress governments on the grounds that they did not have any vision and strategy for the growth of agriculture and its allied sectors, which weakened the farm ecosystem.

The Prime Minister noted that the rapidly developing 21st century India needs a sound and reformed agricultural system, and this transformation began during his government’s term after 2014.

“We have moved away from the apathy of the past. From seed to market, we have initiated comprehensive reforms that will benefit our farmers. These reforms were not just policy changes. These were structural interventions aimed at making Indian agriculture modern, sustainable and resilient,” Mr. Modi said.

The Prime Minister also stated that India’s agricultural exports have almost doubled in the last 11 years, food grain production has increased by approximately 90 million tonnes, while fruit and vegetable production has increased by more than 64 million tonnes.

In his speech, Mr. Modi stated that in the last 11 years, six major fertilizer factories have been set up in the country, more than 25 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed to farmers, micro irrigation facilities have reached 100 lakh agricultural lands and insurance claims worth Rs 2 lakh crore have been paid to farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Mr. Modi said these achievements are a direct result of a development model built on convergence, cooperation and competition, where coordinated efforts between departments and active participation of citizens deliver tangible results.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the inspiration behind the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana comes directly from the success of the targeted areas model.

“The selection of these 100 districts was carried out after careful consideration and based on three key parameters: the level of agricultural production per unit of land, the number of times crops are grown on the same land in a year, and the availability and extent of institutional loans or investment opportunities for farmers.”

The Prime Minister said the Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission aims not only to increase pulses production but also to empower the future generations of the country.

The Prime Minister highlighted that farmers in India have recently achieved record production of food grains such as wheat and rice, positioning India among the top producers in the world.

“However, there is a need to look beyond just flour and rice as food. While these essential nutrients can alleviate hunger, proper nutrition requires a more diverse diet. Protein plays a critical role in both physical and mental growth, especially for India’s largely vegetarian population. Pulses remain the most important source of plant-based protein,” said Mr Modi, Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission He added that it aims to overcome this challenge by increasing domestic pulse production: thus increasing nutritional security and self-reliance.

Emphasizing the government’s determination to increase farmers’ income by expanding opportunities beyond traditional agriculture, the Prime Minister stated that sectors such as animal husbandry, fishing and beekeeping are actively encouraged to provide additional sources of income, especially for small and landless farmers.

Welcoming the growing role of women in transforming Indian agriculture and rural prosperity, Mr. Modi said women are emerging as key leaders in the rural economy, be it in crop cultivation, animal husbandry or natural farming.

Terming the government’s ongoing campaign to create 3 crore “Lakhpati Didis” as a powerful initiative that also directly supports the agriculture sector, Mr. Modi said: “A notable example is the rise of Namo Drone Didis in India’s villages, which use modern drone technology to spray fertilizers and pesticides. This innovation has not only increased agricultural productivity but also generated significant new income streams for the rural sector.” provided.” women.”

Highlighting the critical role of women in promoting natural farming, Mr. Modi said, “More than 17,000 dedicated clusters have been set up to promote this sustainable approach. Additionally, around 70,000 trained ‘Krishi Sakhis’ are actively providing guidance to farmers in adopting natural and eco-friendly farming practices.”

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and minister of state for agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary were also present at the event.