The Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister, Radha Mohan Singh said the farmers have worked hard and produced enough food grains in spite of adverse circumstances. Despite severe setback to the crops on account of natural calamities, total food grains production has increased to 253.16 million tones in 2015-16, added the Minister.
H e said government is taking concrete steps to remove debt problems of the farmers. Government has increased Agricultural Credit target Rs. 9 lakh crore for the year 2016-17 to bring the farmers within institutional fold. He added that government is taking long term measures to remove the problems of the farmers.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister said this in two days Kharif Conference being held at NASC-ICAR Institute Pusa, New Delhi. It is for the first time that the representatives of agriculture and related sectors have been invited for the conference.
Shri Singh observed that inspite of a severe loss to the crops owing to unseasonable rainfall, hailstorm and other natural calamities, the whole food grain production which was 252.02 million tons in 2014-15 as per advance estimate (15.2.2016), it has been increased to 253.16 million tones on 2015-16.
Speaking at the occasion he said that, the government has to double the farmers income in the next five years as is announced in the budget 2016-17. Prime Minister has suggested 7 points to achieve the target.