Narendra Modi calls for raising farm incomes through diversification

He said farmers could also opt for timber plantation along the edges of their fields and begin animal husbandry

Narendra Modi on Saturday called for raising farm incomes through diversification in farming activities and urged all stakeholders, including states, to take a resolve to double income of farmers by 2022.

Addressing farmers at Krishi Unnati Mela in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said the task of doubling farm income may be challenging but was a worthy objective.

Read more from our special coverage on "NARENDRA MODI"

• 10 things PM Narendra Modi said at World Sufi Forum
• PM Modi calls Islam a religion of peace. But is it a case of too little, too late?
• None of Allahs 99 names stands for violence, says Modi as he praises Islam at Sufi meet
• Narendra Modi on TIMEs most influential people on internet list for 2nd yr
• Narendra Modi on TIMEs most influential people on internet for 2nd year

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