Gandhinagar: Addressing the farmers via video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, the government is working on four points to double the income of farmers by year 2022. They are – minimum expenditure on raw material, proper price for production, prevention of wastage and alternative income sources.

Speaking on government’s decision to ensure at least 1.5 time price to farmers for their produce, the Prime Minister said the expenditure while deciding minimum support price will involve labour hard work, expenditure over cattle and machine, seeds and fertilisers, irrigation, land revenue paid to government, working capital interest, leased land rental and hard work by farmer and his family.

The Prime Minister said, in previous government, Rs 1,21,000 crore was allocated to agriculture sector against which the present government has allocated Rs 2,12,000 crore during 2014-2019. Thus the budget for agriculture has been doubled by present government. The Prime Minister was also noted that farmers have broken records of last 70 years in terms of production in last 48 months. Khadhya Anna production has been 280 million plus against average 250 million tonne during 2010-14. Average production of Dalhan has witnessed growth of 10.05%, horticulture production has grown by 15%, fish production by 26%, milk production has witnessed 24% growth.

The Prime Minister said his government’s attempt is to offer help to farmers through entire chain, right from sowing to market or Beej to Bazar. Scope of Kisan credit card has been extended, easy availability of fertilisers has been made with 100% neem coating of urea, Around 100 irrigation projects are being completed under Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The government has also implemented Fasal Bima Yojana.

‘Farmers give food to people, fodder to cattle, raw material to industries, they ensure food security. India is self-dependent in the area of its food necessity thanks to farmers,’ the PM said.

DeshGujarat