Preparing ground for the address of the Prime Minister on Tuesday Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the Government is keen to make agriculture policies ‘income centric’ instead of ‘production-oriented’ for farmers of the country.
Titled ‘’Agriculture 2022 – Doubling Farmers’ Income’’ the conference is being held at the NASC Complex at Pusa in New Delhi. It is being organized at the behest of the Prime Minister who is scheduled to address it today on Tuesday.
The inaugural session of the summit was attended by the Governor of Himachal Pradesh Shri Acharya Devvrat; NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar; Union Minister of States Parshottam Rupala; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Smt. Krishna Raj; and Shri S.K. Pattanayak, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, among others.
Speaking on the occasion Radha Mohan Sing said Government had started forming a committee in April 2016 to implement a comprehensive plan to double the income of farmers. The Committee included senior economists, Joint Secretaries of food processing, crop, Animal Husbandry and Dairy and Policy Departments; Agricultural Advisor to NITI Aayog and many other non-official members.
Another concept mooted by him on the occasion was ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ through a national-level project under which farmers are being made aware and capable of adopting climate-friendly farming techniques.
Singh also mentioned Seven-Point’ Strategy devised for doubling farmers’ income. It included emphasis on irrigation, Provision of quality seeds and nutrients, Large investments in warehouses and cold chains, Promotion of value addition through food processing, implementation of National Agricultural Markets and e-platforms (e-NAM), introduction of crop insurance and Promotion of allied activities such as Dairy-Animal husbandry, Poultry, Bee-keeping, Horticulture, and Fisheries.
He also mentioned about agri-haats and developing ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ through a national-level project under which farmers are being made aware and capable of adopting climate-friendly farming techniques.
