Shutterstock.comPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there is a need to bring a food processing revolution in the country through public-private partnership.
Addressing a webinar on budget provisions for the farm sector, he highlighted the various initiatives taken by the government in the Budget for the next fiscal, including increasing the target of agriculture credit to Rs 16.5 lakh crore from Rs 15 lakh crore in the current financial year.
He emphasised on effective implementation of the Budget provisions.
Modi said the government has taken various decisions for the benefit of 12 crore small and marginal farmers.
These small and marginal farmers would become the driving force of the rural economy, he added.
With the country's foodgrains production increasing, Modi said: "There is a need for post harvest revolution or food processing revolution, and value additions."
He said it would have been better if food processing was given attention 2-3 decades earlier.
Modi said the food processing sector needs to be developed at a faster pace.
For the food processing revolution, he said, participation of farmers as well as public private partnerships need to be increased.
The Prime Minister said that public sector has mainly contributed towards R&D in the agriculture sector, and now the time has come to increase private sector's participation in it.
He also stressed that farmers should be given alternatives so that they do not remain limited to growing wheat and paddy.
The country's agriclutre sector must be expanded to global processed food market, he added.
Modi stressed on increasing the number of agro-industries cluster along the villages so that rural population can get employment related to farming.
He also talked about the need to encourage agri startups, saying they have performed well during the pandemic period.
The Prime Minister also emphasised on establishing network for soil testing at village level and also on accessibility of technology for farmers.
Addressing a webinar on budget provisions for the farm sector, he highlighted the various initiatives taken by the government in the Budget for the next fiscal, including increasing the target of agriculture credit to Rs 16.5 lakh crore from Rs 15 lakh crore in the current financial year.
He emphasised on effective implementation of the Budget provisions.
Modi said the government has taken various decisions for the benefit of 12 crore small and marginal farmers.
These small and marginal farmers would become the driving force of the rural economy, he added.
With the country's foodgrains production increasing, Modi said: "There is a need for post harvest revolution or food processing revolution, and value additions."
He said it would have been better if food processing was given attention 2-3 decades earlier.
Modi said the food processing sector needs to be developed at a faster pace.
For the food processing revolution, he said, participation of farmers as well as public private partnerships need to be increased.
The Prime Minister said that public sector has mainly contributed towards R&D in the agriculture sector, and now the time has come to increase private sector's participation in it.
He also stressed that farmers should be given alternatives so that they do not remain limited to growing wheat and paddy.
The country's agriclutre sector must be expanded to global processed food market, he added.
Modi stressed on increasing the number of agro-industries cluster along the villages so that rural population can get employment related to farming.
He also talked about the need to encourage agri startups, saying they have performed well during the pandemic period.
The Prime Minister also emphasised on establishing network for soil testing at village level and also on accessibility of technology for farmers.
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3 Comments on this Story
 | priyanshu laddha33 minutes ago I believe that modi is visionary. he built largesst statue and stadium. may be he was lost somewhere in 2016 that he did demonetization. but he do not talk non sense like RG. he blame previous govt. because of politics but that is right. also he want to stay in powet , so using cheap tactics. but it's ok because he know that Congress govr. is harmful. so he need to do whatever it takes to avoid Congress. he is also doing privatization. great man. history. |
| Anil Kommunolla42 minutes ago Agriculture and horticulture sectors without processing units are not at all productive and more worrisome. Government must encourage the investors to establish more food processing units, so that farmers will get reasonable price for their products and at the same time our imports reduce and exports will increase. We have multiple uses with the food product extractions. |
| Prof Manohar Lal1 hour ago Had Modi Govt. not put a Punjabi SAD hand as Food processing minister and instead put any progressive person with non agri back ground like Dairy, Horticulture the ministry would have done wonders. The resigned minister Ms. HS Badal was stuck on Wheat, Rice & MSP issues concerning Punjab and did a great injustice by sidelining other non agri areas of the FP ministry which earn much more revenue to the farmers and also the government |