Portrait of Narendra Modi
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Narendra Modi on Agriculture

Pro-Modernization Advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Narendra Modi views agriculture as a strategic pillar requiring modernization, technology infusion, and a strong link to global export markets for growth.

Key Points

  • He has stressed the need to make Indian agriculture export-oriented to capitalize on changing global demand patterns.

  • The government has continuously strengthened the sector, noting that 10 crore farmers have received over ₹4 lakh crore under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

  • He calls for leveraging technology and building digital public infrastructure for agriculture through platforms like AgriStack.

Summary

Narendra Modi positions agriculture as a strategic pillar essential for India's long-term development and overall economic growth. His stance emphasizes strengthening the sector by reducing farmer risks through welfare programs and implementing reforms, such as ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) returns of 1.5 times the cost of production. Key initiatives cited include the massive disbursement of funds under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and significant settlement of claims under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, which he asserts have provided farmers with basic economic security.

He advocates for a transformative approach focused on scaling up high-value, export-oriented agriculture by leveraging India's diverse agro-climatic zones to meet evolving global demand for quality, branded produce. This modernization involves bringing a significant 'technology culture' to farming, utilizing digital public infrastructure like Kisan IDs and digital land surveys, while also promoting crop diversification, natural farming, and strengthening allied sectors like animal husbandry and fisheries to boost rural incomes.

Key Quotes

"Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy and a strategic pillar for the nation's long-term developmental journey."

"If we scale high-value agriculture together, it will transform agriculture into a globally competitive sector"

Frequently Asked Questions

Narendra Modi views agriculture as a strategic pillar for India's long-term growth. His position is strongly positive, focusing on modernization, technology infusion, and linking local farmers to global markets for increased export potential.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed the necessity of making Indian agriculture more export-oriented to take advantage of evolving worldwide consumption trends. He urges leveraging India's diverse climate to scale up production of high-value crops like cocoa and cashew for global competitiveness.

He frequently highlights initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi for direct financial support and the PM Fasal Bima Yojana for risk coverage. Furthermore, he emphasizes the development of digital public infrastructure, such as Kisan IDs, to bring a technology culture to farming.