Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar along with his deputies and Ministry officials launched National Food and Nutrition Campaign for farmers on Thursday. The Campaign is being organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
All Deputy Director General-Assistant Director-General and other officers-scientists, Vice Chancellors of Agricultural Universities, officers of other agricultural institutions and thousands of farmers present in all KVKs across the country were virtually connected to the program.
Speaking on the occasion Tomar said India has made great achievements in the field of food grains. “Our country is number one or two in the world in agriculture and allied products. Our farmers and scientists have so much power that if we compete in the world, we can be number one in almost all commodities.
“But still there are challenges galore. In the 75th year of independence, we are standing at a stage, where we have to introspect as well as consider the challenges and their solutions”, said Tomar.
It is the responsibility of the farmers along with the government to ensure that our products should be of better quality, meet global standards, farmers should be attracted towards costly crops, educated youth should be attracted towards agriculture while being environment-friendly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working tirelessly; before Modi Government, the budget of agriculture of the Government of India was about 21 thousand crore rupees, which has now been increased to more than Rs 1.23 lakh crore.
For the development of Gram Panchayats, the amount of the Finance Commission’s grant has been increased almost five times by the PM. “Agriculture is our priority, agriculture has proved its relevance time and again even in adverse conditions.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary said that the Government has resolved to solve the problem of malnutrition under the leadership of the Prime Minister and has also launched several schemes and programs in this direction.
Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Director General, ICAR informed that during the festival the achievements of the agriculture sector will be shared among maximum farmers as well as they will be benefitted.
On this occasion, Union Minister Tomar also released a booklet based on the compilation of programs and activities of the festival.