In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare stated that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), falling under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) has come-up with a development roadmap for the next 10 years for the agricultural sector. The reply said that the roadmap aims at exploiting the capabilities of science and agricultural innovations for securing food, as well as nutritional security of our people.
The plan further looks to promote farmers’ prosperity and to enhance the natural resource base to promote wholesome and inclusive growth and sustainable development of the Indian agriculture sector. The focused areas of research and development include Genetic enhancement of plants, animals and fishes for increased productivity under the heightened intensity of biotic and abiotic stresses, enhancing the farm productivity through sustainable augmentation, mechanization of agriculture and food system, thus enhancing value, safety and income through food processing, development of energy efficient technologies and farming practices, education and human-resource development, along with developing and promoting innovations in technology transfer systems.
Agriculture-related technology demonstrations at the farmers’ fields are being carried out in coordination with the concerned Central and State Government Departments in order to ensure that newer technologies such as improved variety seeds of crops, new breeds and strains of livestock and fish reach the farmers. Along with that, the emphasis is on delivering improved production and protection technologies to the farmers and end users in the shortest possible time with technology demonstrations at their respective fields in close coordination with the concerned departments and agencies.
To make the objective successful, an extensive network of 729 Krishi Vigyan Kendras has been created at district level across the country. Technology transfer has also been made possible through systems using knowledge based platforms like Portals, Mobile Apps and Web based communication networks. With the intention of capacity building of farmers, farmers groups and community based Organisations such as Farmers Producer Organisations and Self Help Groups for acquiring knowledge and advisory for capacity building is also being given focused attention. The rapid and continuous developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are used as facilitators for the faster dissemination of information and technologies developed by the National Agricultural Research System.
Later, on replying to a question asked by TR Baalu in the lower house for a separate Agriculture budget, the Union Minister said that the Modi government is fully committed to farming and the farmer’s interest, and so a separate budget won’t be necessary. Making a separate budget for agriculture and taking out allocations from the primary budget, would neither benefit the country nor the farmers, he further added.
Just a few days back, a number of provisions were announced in the Union Budget 2022-23. Some of them were as: NABARD will facilitate funds with blended capital to finance startups in agricultural and rural enterprise. Natural and organic farming will be promoted across the country, to push for sustainable and chemical free farming. Kissan Drones will be used for crop assessment and spraying insecticides and nutrients.
Land records will be completely digitized. Rs 44605 crore has been approved for Ken-Betwa river linking project, which is estimated to benefit around 9 lakh hectare of farmlands. MSP to the tune of Rs 2.37 lakh crore will be directly transferred to the farmers, which is said to support around 1.63 crore farmers. The budget saw an increase of 20Â per cent for Rashtriya Gokul Mission and National Program for Dairy Development, which will ensure the increased productivity of indigenous bovine population and quality milk, benefitting almost 8 crore dairy farmers.