Union Agriculture Minister addresses the convocation of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University
Like the soldier, the spirit of our farmers is also very high - Tomar
Farmers making exemplary contribution to Food Security with their agricultural
produce
Union
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the
spirit of our farmers is like that of the Indian soldier, - the way soldiers
protect the nation by standing bravely on the borders, in the same way our
farmer brothers and sisters generate agricultural produce, making an exemplary
contribution to Food Security. If farmers don't work in the fields then we will
not have food grains to fill our stomach despite having money. Our Agriculture
sector is very important for 140 crore Indians, farmers should be treated with
respect. Tomar said this today as the chief guest at the Third Convocation
ceremony of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (Pusa,
Samastipur, Bihar).
Union Minister Tomar said that in view of the importance
of agriculture in the country, the government under the leadership of Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given priority to this sector. Till before
2014, the budget of Agriculture sector used to be about 25,000 crores, whereas
today in the Modi Government the Agriculture budget is Rs. 1,25,000 crores. For
the development of agriculture, work is being done through technology. Concrete
work is being done to improve the financial condition of 86 percent small
farmers of the country. The Central Government is constituting 10,000 new FPOs,
on which Rs 6,865 crore is being spent. As technology advances, educated youth
will get more employment opportunities in the villages; with the increase in
employment in the villages, the Agriculture sector will emerge a bigger pillar
of strength of the country. Tomar said that the agriculture sector is full of
challenges, facing which the government is moving ahead with positivity.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been implemented to compensate the loss of
farmers, in which, as compared to the farmers premium of Rs 25,000 crores,
claims worth Rs 1.30 lakh crore has been paid as claims. Pradhan Mantri Kisan
Samman Nidhi has been implemented for income support to Small Farmers, in which
Rs 6,000 is being given annually in 3 instalments with complete transparency,
disbursed directly into farmers’ bank accounts. Till now, more than Rs 2.40
lakh crore has been given to crores of farmers.
Tomar said
that due to the hard work of farmers, efficiency of scientists and visionary
policies of Prime Minister Shri Modi, India has today become a country that
supplies to the world. The whole world is amazed to see the determination,
technology and positive thinking with which the government is moving forward
under the efficient leadership of the Prime Minister. More than 100 countries
of the world look towards India with the expectation that India will help when
needed, we have to accept this challenge and work. It is our responsibility to
meet the needs of the country, while keeping in mind the expectations of the
world, we have to prepare for the needs of the year 2050 from now itself. To
attract the new generation to the traditional field of agriculture, there is a
need to make timely changes. Crop diversification and new techniques will have
to be adopted. Today, entire world is left spellbound with India's achievements
in various fields including cashless transactions. We are also ahead in the
production of agricultural products. We also have a leading role in Animal
Husbandry, Fisheries & Beekeeping.
He said that
whenever it comes to economic analysis, some countries do not want to praise
us, but still they are bound to say that India will emerge as the fastest
growing economy in the coming times. For the next 25 years, during the
‘Amritkaal’, our speed should be faster. Looking at the political conditions of
the world, we have to develop ourselves in such a way that when we celebrate
the centenary year of the country's Independence, we should be included in the
category of Developed countries. For this, the villages and farmers will have
to be strengthened.
During the convocation, degrees were awarded to 635 students,
including 260 girls. Purva Sharan, a student of Fisheries College, was bestowed
the Visitor's Gold Medal for securing the highest marks. Rinto Nandi of Tirhut
Agricultural College, Dholi, was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal for the
best performance in the postgraduate examination. Manisha Bhardwaj of Pt
Deendayal Upadhyay Forestry College, Piprakothi, Nikita of Agricultural
Engineering College, Jayanti Kumari of Humanities College and KM Veethi of
Community Science College were awarded the Gold Medal.
In the program, ‘Mushroom Samosa’, prepared by the
University, was released, which has recently received a patent. Advanced
varieties of sugarcane and various technical books were released. On the
occasion, Tomar inaugurated the administrative building and farmers’ hostel of
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sukhet (Madhubani), Narkatiaganj (West Champaran), Lada
(Samastipur), Turki (Muzaffarpur), complex of Tiranga Park, Banana Research Centre at Goraul (Vaishali) and the sprawling Agricultural Museum of the
University. The program was attended by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture
& Farmers Welfare, Kailash Choudhary, Vaishali MP Veena Devi, Muzaffarpur
MP Ajay Nishad, Samastipur MP Prince Raj, Director General of ICAR, Dr Himanshu
Pathak, Chancellor Prafulla Mishra and Vice Chancellor Dr PS Pandey among
other dignitaries.