Pitching for converting farmers' challenges into opporunities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged all states to give priority to implementation of the "roadmap" for boosting the agriculture sector with a target of doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
Addressing a farmers' rally here, he sought to hardsell the recently-launched Crop Insurance scheme, which he termed as a "protective shield", and talked about various other initiatives including plans to launch e-platform for marketing of agriculture products in April as part of efforts to ensure welfare of the farming community.
"Today, there are several challenges before the farmers... Is there no solution to these challengesIJ These can be converted into opportunities if you (farmers) help me and states implement the various schemes properly," Modi said.
Noting that the subject of agriculture is with states, he said "the states where some work has been done in the farming sector have witnessed progress. But in the states having the approach of 'chalta hai' (let it happen) and 'election time pe dekh lenge' (will see at the time of elections), the fate of the farmers has been left to the God. After God, there is nobody to help them."
Underlining the vision of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, the 75th independence of the country, Modi said, "From this land of Uttar Pradesh, I urge all the states to give priority to agriculture and then see the changes. The roadmap is there, you only have to implement it."
He said "there is no criticisim" of any state and "there is no need for it" but he only wants to "urge" them with the promise that "the Centre is ready to work shoulder-to-shoulder" with them in the implementation of schemes.
He said agriculture should be made employment-oriented to make it attractive to the new generation cultivators as he noted that agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors were the backbone of the country's economy.
For economic development of the contry, there should be three pillars -- agriculture, industry and service sector, Modi said.
"If industries are not set up, where will sons of farmers get the job. With this we need to promote service sector like tourism, where employment can be generated," he said.
The Prime Minister dwelt at length on the Crop Insuance Scheme and highlighted its elements.
The revamped crop insurance scheme is cheaper than the previous one launched in 1999 and modified in 2010. It ensures quick dispute settlements and provides for compensation payment direct into bank accounts.
The new scheme works towards making it more attractive for the farmers. The farmers have now to pay just two per cent of the premium for kharif crop and 1.5 per cent for rabi while the same for horticulture will be fixed at 5 per cent. The balance premium is to be paid by the government – both state and central.
India derives about 17% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from agriculture and considering the volatility in farm output due to vagaries of nature often resulting in lower production, the new crop insurance scheme approved by the government is expected to help small and marginal farmers in a big way.
Modi regretted that for the sake of higher yield, massive doses of chemicals and harmful fertilisers were used. "This atrocity on 'dharti mata' should be avoided...We have no right to commit such an atrocity," he advised the farmers.
Stating that fertiliser shortage and blackmarketing has ended, Modi said earlier the PM Office used to get letters from CMs and most of them were for demanding fertiliser.
"The Centre did not permit blackmarketing of urea. Now no CM writes to me for fertiliser," he said.
Modi said on Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 he would launch national agriculture market "e-platform" for farmers enabling them to know market price of their produce through mobile phones.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the gathering that the NDA government had raised the amount of compensation to farmers who suffered due to vagaries of nature.
"We have simplified the procress of giving them central assistance," he said.