Modi bats for raising farm income through diversification

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for raising farm income through diversification in farming activities, urged all stakeholders including states to take a resolve to double the income of farmers by 2022, and said the next revolution in agriculture will be based on technology.

Addressing farmers at the Krishi Unnati Mela here, Modi said: "The next revolution in Indian agriculture has to be built on technology and modernization, and the eastern part of India had maximum potential to achieve it. The government is working towards this goal."

Modi said the task of doubling farm income may be challenging but was a worthy objective.

"The Soil Health Card scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana are important steps towards reducing input costs," he said.

Calling to "raise farm incomes through diversification in farming activities", he said farmers could also opt for timber plantation along the edges of their fields and begin animal husbandry.

Diversification in farming activity will reduce the risks associated with agriculture, he added.

Modi said India's future had to be built on the growth of agriculture and prosperity of its farmers and its villages and the union budget presented last month would have a far-reaching impact on these sectors.

He said the next revolution in Indian agriculture had to be built on technology and modernisation and the eastern part of India had the maximum potential to achieve it.

"The government is working towards this goal," he said.

Modi said reduction of input costs was the first element towards raising farm incomes and said the Soil Health Card scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana were steps in this direction.

Modi also explained the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and said it had been evolved after wide ranging consultations.

He said the scheme was characterized by minimum premium and maximum security.

On the occasion, the prime minister gave away the Krishi Karman Awards for 2014-15 to states and farmers.

He also launched a mobile app "Kisan Suvidha" for farmers.

The mobile app will provide information to farmers on subjects such as weather, market prices, seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and agriculture machinery.