Union Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking at the 16th Agriculture Leadership Conclave in New Delhi, spotlighted India’s sweeping agricultural reforms aimed at empowering farmers and modernizing rural economies.
Key Highlights:
- Over 25 crore Soil Health Cards have been distributed nationwide to promote balanced fertiliser use and improve crop productivity.
- Kisan Credit Cards have expanded access to affordable crop loans, easing financial burdens for millions of farmers.
- The PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme continues to provide direct income support to farming families.
Digital and Market Integration:
- 1,400 mandis have been integrated with the e-NAM platform, enabling farmers to access real-time crop pricing and expand market linkages.
- The government is pushing digital agriculture through AI, geospatial tools, weather forecasting, and vertical farming to support FPOs and cooperatives.
Export and Global Reach:
- Despite global headwinds, India’s agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries sectors have achieved Rs 4 lakh crore in exports.
- Free Trade Agreements with Australia, UAE, EFTA nations, and the UK have opened new markets for basmati rice, spices, fruits, vegetables, and poultry.
Future Outlook:
- Focus areas include organic farming, improved seed quality, drip irrigation, and food processing.
- Investments in warehousing, branding, and packaging aim to reduce post-harvest losses and boost value addition.
Minister Goyal reaffirmed agriculture as a cornerstone of the Viksit Bharat vision, calling farmers the architects of India’s global success.
Sources: Krishi Jagran, The Hans India, Observer Voice, India Shipping News, KNN India.