Modi says farmers must get more avenues to sell

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasised on farmers getting more avenues to sell crops and said a food processing revolution was needed in the country for value addition to farm produce and to realise better prices.

Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of Budget provisions regarding the Agriculture Ministry, he underlined the need for increased participation of private players in the farm sector, including in research and development (R&D) work. Without making any direct reference to the three new farm reform laws or to the threemonth-old agitation by farmers, Modi said there is a need for expanding options for the country’s farming community to sell agri produce.

“Today the need of the hour is that farmers of the country get more and more options to sell their produce,’ he said.

Restrictions had a negative impact on the sector, he added.

While the Modi government says the three laws give farmers alternate options to sell their produce, thousands of farmers from Punjab and other states have been protesting at Delhi borders against the laws which they see will end the government procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Highlighting various provisions for agriculture in the Union Budget, the Prime Minister said agriculture credit target has been hiked to Rs 16.5 lakh crore with priority to animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sector.

He said Rural Infrastructure Fund has been increased to Rs 40,000 crore and allocation for micro irrigation has been doubled. “Scope of Operation Green Scheme has been expanded to 22 perishable products and 1,000 more mandis with e-NAM will be linked,” Modi highlighted.