Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the farmers, especially from the eastern parts of the country, to make India self-reliant in pulse production. He, at the same time, assured them of all support from the Government side that would be supplemented by innovations in the field of agriculture.While addressing a gathering at Barhi in Hazaribagh on Sunday after laying the foundation stone for the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), the Prime Minister also asked the farmers to adopt modern techniques.
The Prime Minister said that, given the rising population and increasingly fragmented land-holdings, the need of the hour for the nation was a second green revolution without any delay, which could happen only in eastern India.“Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri had given a call for making India independent in food grain production and the farmers of the country responded. Now the country need not to relay on grains from outside. I on the occasion would also like to request all the farmers to devote, say one acre, of land out of five to pulse production and make the country independent in pulse production,” said Modi.
The call holds importance since there is shortage of legumes, rich source of protein, which has led to escalation of pulse prices across the country like never before. The Government had recently decided to import pulses to meet the domestic demands. The PM in his call also mentioned about incentives being provided for legume producers.“The Government is encouraging this in a big way and special minimum support price (MSP) has been announced for pulses to encourage farmers. We also expect that agriculture scientists and researchers would chip in with the latest agriculture techniques to support farmers,” he said.Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, MoS Jayant Sinha, Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu, Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Agriculture Minister Randhir Singh were also present on the occasion. Underlining the importance of the upcoming institute located at Goria Karma of Barhi, the Prime Minister hoped it would help in bringing about second green revolution in the region.
“The Government has focused on the eastern part of the country. Many urea and fertilizer plants like Sindri are closed. The Government would open those and also set up new plants at Gorakhpur, in West Bengal, in Bihar and is ready to invest crores. Also, the institute would not only benefit farmers of Jharkhand but also of entire South Bihar through excellent scientists and modern techniques. The country now needs a second Green Revolution desperately and its possibility lies only in eastern UP, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam and eastern regions,” he said.
Underlining the importance of newer techniques in farming in the light of constant reduction in farmland area, the PM brought together contributions both from researches and farmers. “Along with traditional methods we also need to thrive for finding and adopting modern farming techniques so that grain production as well as farm income can increase in whatever land is left. But at the same time we also need localised solution of farmers’ problem. The idea that worked in Kerala may not suit Jharkhand. We need labs in all the agro-climatic zones and today’s effort is one step in that direction,” said Modi.
He talked about initiatives like soil health card which would provide crucial information about soil, its need, deficiencies, desired supplements and suitable crops to the farmers so that it can be induced specifically. Modi also gave a call for water management and appealed to farmers to adopt modern techniques like drip and sprinkler irrigation for greater effect.“Such initiatives would also open ways for livelihood for trained youths at the village level. These soil testing labs are to be operated by them only who can earn out of it. Farmers can also get greater yield with lesser input,” said the PM and added the importance of integrated farming like dairy, poultry, fishery and bee-keeping to generate additional income for farmers.The PM also reiterated the need of proper irrigation facility and said that the Krishi Sinchai Yojna launched by the Government would transform single crop land into two-three crop farms. He also termed ‘Kissan channel’ like “open university for farmers” by making available all relevant information at one place.