More agriculture credit, easy access to markets to boost farm income: PM Modi |
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, more agriculture credit and easy access to markets will help boost farm income.
Addressing a national conference on 'doubling farm income by 2022', Mr Modi spoke on pro-farmer initiatives announced in the budget.
He mentioned about steps taken to lower cost of production, improve productivity and take farm produce to markets by minimising wastage and said these measures will help in increasing farmers' income. He expressed happiness that pulses production in the country has risen to 23 million tonnes from 17 million tonnes in just one year.
Mr Modi said coating urea with neem has helped in enhancing the efficiency of fertiliser and boosting productivity as also led to cost saving.
The Prime Minister said, soil health cards have helped in curbing the use of chemical fertilisers by 8 to 10 per cent and increased productivity by 5 to 6 per cent.
The Prime Minister said as many as 99 irrigation schemes that had been stuck for 2-3 decades will be completed within a specified time-frame and 80,000 crore rupees has been allocated for it. He said, half of these schemes will be completed by this year-end and remaining in the next year.
He said, 'Operation Greens' which has been announced in the budget to augment farm supply chain that will help cultivation of tomato, onion and potato.
The prime minister said 22 thousand rural markets will be upgraded so as to provide a market for farm produce within 5 to 15-kilometre distance of production points.
He said, Government is also encouraging Farmer Producer Organisation and the provision for agri-credit has been raised to 11 lakh crore rupees from 8 lakh crore.
Mr Modi said, use of solar energy, converting agriculture waste into wealth and economical use of crop residue will also help in doubling of farmers' income by 2022.
He said, the government has also approved blending of up to 10 per cent sugarcane-extracted ethanol in petrol.
Mr Modi said as much as Rs 11,000-crore claims have been settled under the crop insurance scheme, which is double of the past amount.
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LANGUAGE BULLETINS 
