Union Agriculture Minister Tomar inaugurates the Multipurpose Mega Farmers Fair in Gumla district of Jharkhand
By the time we celebrate the centenary of our Independence, India should emerge
as a world guru and let the world proclaim ‘India, the Best’ -- Tomar
Union Minister
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar today inaugurated the
District Level Multipurpose Mega Kisan Fair organized at Bishnupur in Gumla
district of Jharkhand. Marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment
of Vikas Bharti, Bishunpur, the fair was organized by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(KVK), Gumla, functioning from the Vikas Bharti premises and under its
administrative control. Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Tomar said that
India's respect has increased in the whole world because of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's personality and work, his vision and commitment. Today the
world is looking towards India with expectation that if need be, India will
help us in crisis. Tomar said that from
now, the Amrit Mahotsav, till Amrit Kaal when India completes 100 years of
Independence, our country should emerge as the ‘Vishwa Guru’ (world guru) and
let the world proclaim ‘India, the Best’, this is possible only when all of us
work together by adopting the basic mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka
Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’. Every citizen will have to work by understanding this
responsibility.
Underlining
the importance of the Agriculture sector, Union Minister Tomar said that it has
such great power that neither the Mughals nor the British could shake it. Even
during the Corona pandemic, our Agriculture sector kept the country's economy
going. Even during the Covid period, the farmers produced bumper crops and
under the leadership of PM Modi, 80 crore people were provided free food grains
by the Centre. The Modi Government is engaged in uplifting the farmers. The
strengthening of Agri-Rural Infrastructure is being done with this objective.
Tomar said that there are many challenges in the
Agriculture sector, which will have to be tackled continuously. Prime Minister Modi
has provided a security cover like the Crop Insurance Scheme to the farmers, under
this scheme claims worth Rs 1.30 lakh crore have settled the farmers
compensated for their losses. Tomar said that in the present circumstances,
awareness should be carried out about which crop can be more remunerative to
the farmers, which technology should reach the farmers so that their farming is
protected, the cost is reduced and it becomes profitable. He termed crop
diversification as the need of the hour, and also said that to empower the
small farmers, they need to be organized through FPOs, the government is
working in this direction.
Union Agriculture Minister Tomar said that under the
ambitious scheme of Kisan Credit Card, the Centre has kept a target of Rs 20
lakh crore, the benefits of which are being taken by our farmers. This scheme
includes farmers of allied areas including Animal Husbandry & Fisheries.
Majority of the small farmers are being continuously benefited through
micro-irrigation scheme, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund etc.
Emphasizing on empowering the farmers, Tomar said that if
the farmer prospers, the country will progress. Referring to the International
Year of Millets – 2023, declared by the United Nations on the initiative of PM
Modi, Tomar said the farmers should move fast in this direction. Jharkhand
should be known as the Millets (Shree Anna) State in the world, the State
Government should also make concerted efforts in this direction.
In the program MPs Sudarshan Bhagat and Sameer Oraon as
well as Dr Onkarnath Singh, Vice Chancellor of Birsa Agricultural University,
Ranchi, Director of Mustard Research Directorate, Bharatpur, Dr PK Rai, Vice
President of Vikas Bharti, Dr Ranjana Chowdhary, Secretary, Padmashri Dr Ashok
Bhagat, Joint Secretary, Mahendra Bhagat and Dr Sanjay Singh of KVK besides a
large number of farmers and scientists were present.