Special Correspondent
@the_news_21
Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that his government will continue to walk on the path of strengthening the agriculture sector and farmers’ with complete dedication. Speaking about the reforms in the agriculture sector, he said with full preparations the government has moved towards reforming the agriculture sector.
He said after reforms in the agriculture sector, the farmers’ can send his produce to those parts of the country where he can get good returns, adding, he can also take the benefits of subsidy given on fruits and vegetables. The PM said that the reforms related to the agriculture sector are happening due to the partnership of villagers, farmers and youth. FPOs — Farmers Producer Organisation, other cooperative organisations, Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) are being given priority in agriculture trading and infrastructure, he added.
Addressing after virtually flagging-off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal, the Prime Minister said the Kisan Rail Seva (KRS) is an important step in increasing the income of the farmers’.
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The PM said, through new reforms in the agriculture sector, trading and business related to agriculture is going to increase and their beneficiaries are going to be the organisations of farmers, youth from rural parts of the country and women. He added that the private investment in agriculture trading will get strength from the efforts of the government.
Talking about the Kisan Rail that will connect farmers from Maharashtra and West Bengal, he said, the farmers and animal keepers from West Bengal will now be connected to Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other big markets of Maharashtra. With the help of Kisan Rail, lakhs of farmers’ from West Bengal have got a big option and it has also benefited small traders.
The Prime Minister said, until now the Railway was connecting different states with one another, and now it will connect the Agri markets of the country. Modi said, the Kisan rail is moving cold storage which will usher in a major change in the agriculture driven economy.
Saying that it will strengthen the cold supply chain, the PM said, through Kisan rail 80 per cent small and marginal farmers have got huge strength. He underlined that there is no minimum quantity decided for farmers and as a reason if any farmer wants to send 50-100 kg parcel that too would be possible with the help of Kisan Rail. Smallest possible produce of a small time farmer can reach the big market in a good condition at a lesser price, he added. The PM informed that a smallest consignment of 3 kg pomegranates was sent through Kisan rail. Not only that a poultry farmer had sent 17 dozen eggs through Kisan Rail.
The PM said, the Centre is investing millions of rupees on creating advanced storage, advanced supply chain, besides; an initiative of Kisan Rail is also being done to facilitate the farmers’.
Modi said, before independence too, the country had a massive rail network. In addition to this, he added, technology related to cold storage was also available since beginning. He further said now with the operationalisation of Kisan rail these strengths are being put to use in an appropriate way.
The Prime Minister said, in order to provide big and new markets to small farmers at less price, the government’s intent is pure and even the policy is also clear. He said in the Budget itself, the government had made important announcements with regards to Kisan Rail and Krishi Udaan.
The PM said, with confidence he can say that the government is walking on a right path. He said, initially the Kisan rail was weekly, after a few days due to increasing demand, the service was extended to three days of the week.
The PM claimed that 100th Kisan rail in such a short duration is a clear message of what a farmer expects. He noted that these works show the commitment the government has to serve the farmers and it is also a proof of how much ready the farmers are for new possibilities.
The PM said, farmers’ from north east states have been benefiting through Krishi Udaan. Prime Minister Modi said, Kisan Rail is a moving cold storage which means perishables like milk, fish vegetables, fruits can be transported by taking due care of the commodities. He said, the government provides subsidy of 50 per cent to farmers which is benefiting them in return.
After being provided facilities such as Kisan Rail, he said, it will encourage in producing cash crops and nutritional crops. Modi said, three years back 50 per cent subsidy was given by the Centre on tomato, onion and potato transportation. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat, he informed that it has been extended to another dozen fruits and vegetables, which is directly benefiting the farmers. He further said across the country, perishable cargo centres are being built near railway stations where a farmer can store his produce.
