Rural Development Minister Birender Singh today said farmers need to be made a more integral part of the economy and that they required better irrigation and infrastructure.
Speaking at a CII workshop, he said farmers should be given opportunities to participate in non-agricultural activities and noted that a large number of youths with a farming background are no longer interested in pursuing agriculture.
"Farmers require support by way of infrastructure and in irrigation facilities rather than fixing of MSP for their produce. Moreover, they need to be made a more integral part of the economic activity that takes place.
"One needs to think about the economics of the situation to address such issues," a CII statement said quoting the minister.
For the development of backward districts, the focus should be on quality education, healthcare facilities, training and skilling for building capacity and empowering people, he said.
While the government is taking steps for the development of backward districts, the private sector has a critically important role to play in this, Singh said.
