DH NEWS SERVICE
new delhi, FEB 13
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today categorically stated in the Rajya Sabha while replying to questions raised by Members of Parliament that the government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is not in power for the sake of authority, but for the comprehensive development of farmers, India’s villages and the poor. The Union Minister emphasised that a farmer is not merely an ‘annadata’ (food provider) but a ‘jeevandata’ (life giver) — “not God, but certainly no less than God”. With this conviction, policies such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Minimum Support Price (MSP), Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), crop residue management and crop diversification are bringing visible change on the ground.
Farmer as life giver: 50 years of neglect under Congress vs focus under Modi Government
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) do not enter politics to sit on the golden throne of power for personal enjoyment, but to engage in national reconstruction, the welfare of farmers, service of the poor and the building of a self-reliant and developed India (Viksit Bharat). Calling the farmer a life giver, the Union Minister said that although a farmer may not be God, he is certainly no less than God. However, for 50 years, Congress governments failed to seriously address the fundamental problems faced by farmers. Fruits, vegetables and food grains were continuously produced, but no adequate arrangements were created to safely store them. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recognised these problems, and the difference is now visible in villages across the country.
AIF creates network of cold storages, warehouses and machinery; crop loss reduced by up to 15%
The Union Agriculture Minister stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took the historic decision to create agricultural infrastructure worth over ?1 lakh crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, ensuring that farmers’ produce can be safely stored. Under this scheme, 44,243 Custom Hiring Centres, 25,854 Primary Processing Centres, 25,565 Farm Harvest Automation Units, 17,779 Warehouses, 4,201 Sorting and Grading Units, infrastructure for Smart and Precision Agriculture at 3,549 locations, and 2,827 Cold Storages have been established.
Because of these modern structures, losses of crops, fruits and vegetables have been reduced by 5 per cent to 15 per cent. Farmers are now able to store their produce safely and obtain better prices instead of being forced to sell immediately after harvest.
From Punjab to Tamil Nadu: No Discrimination, Guaranteed Development
Shri Shivraj Chouhan made it clear that all Indians are children of Bharat Mata and there is no question of discrimination. Paying respect to the great people of Punjab, he assured that the Modi government will leave no stone unturned for Punjab’s progress and development. Under AIF, Punjab received 32,014 applications, and against an initial target of ?7,425.98 crore, projects worth ?11,351.54 crore were approved. With improved storage, processing and mechanisation, crop losses have reduced by 5 per cent to 15 per cent, and each project has generated direct employment for four to nine individuals, leading to the creation of lakhs of jobs.
Referring to Tamil Nadu, he said that the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission is being implemented uniformly across the country. Good quality seeds, cluster-based production, demonstration plots, assistance up to ?10,000 per hectare, assured procurement and support for dal mills will be available in Tamil Nadu as well. The Centre remains committed to increasing pulses production in coordination with the state government.
MSP, Pulses Mission and 100 per cent procurement to benefit farmers
On the issue of MSP, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan directly criticised the opposition, stating that when they were in power, they rejected the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation of MSP at 50 per cent profit over cost by filing an affidavit in court. He said the Modi government implemented MSP with 50 per cent profit over cost, and farmers have experienced the difference on the ground.
Citing pulses procurement data, he said that during 10 years of the UPA government, only 6 lakh metric tonnes of pulses were procured. In contrast, the Modi government has procured 1 crore 92 lakh metric tonnes of pulses. He announced that 100 per cent procurement of tur (pigeon pea), masoor (lentil) and urad (black gram) will be ensured. Whatever quantity farmers produce and wish to sell, the Centre will procure in full.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) have been authorised for procurement, and state governments may also undertake procurement through their agencies. Other pulses will be procured under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). To ensure timely payments, a single-click Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism has been created to transfer money directly into farmers’ bank accounts.
