Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan met farmers in Punjab today as part of the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’. He visited farmlands to review crops and their production, and also toured a factory that manufactures agricultural machines in Amargarh, Patiala, where he inspected various farming tools and equipment.

Present at the event were Punjab Agriculture Minister Shri Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, Punjab Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Secretary of Punjab agriculture department Dr. Basant Garg, and other scientists and officials.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Chouhan said, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision is for a Viksit Bharat, and we are working tirelessly with that goal in mind. Our mission is to build a glorious, prosperous, and powerful India. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. In the fourth quarter of last financial year, the country achieved a growth rate of 7.5%, with agriculture contributing to 5.4% of it. Agriculture still accounts for over 18% of the Indian economy, and remains the source of livelihood for 50% of our population.”

Outlining the key objectives for agriculture, he said:

“I bow again and again before the soil of Punjab. The farmers of Punjab have played a major role in filling the nation’s food reserves. There was a time when we were forced to consume low-quality wheat from the U.S., but today, we not only produce high-quality wheat and rice, but also export them. Indian basmati rice is in high demand abroad. However, we must move even further – our aim is to make our farmers prosperous and achieve complete development in the agriculture sector,” Shri Chouhan said.

He emphasized the need to increase production while reducing production costs. He stressed on the importance of high-quality seeds and directed ICAR scientists to develop heat-resistant seeds suited to changing climate conditions. He also called for research-based and climate-adapted farming.

“We must adopt the latest techniques and methods in agriculture to increase yields while reducing labour and costs. Machines are now available not only for harvesting but also for planting. Multipurpose harvesters are providing significant cost and labour benefits to farmers,” he said.

Shri Chouhan said that transforming agriculture requires decisive actions and problem-solving. “Machines developed through our innovations are now proving effective both domestically and internationally. During my recent visit to Brazil, I observed their use of modern machines in agriculture, but farming conditions in India and abroad differ significantly. Indian farms are generally smaller than those in other countries.”

He stressed the need for India to become an exporter of agricultural machinery and called for collaboration with state governments in that pursuit. “We must design equipment and machines tailored for export, while also focusing on affordable tools for small and marginal farmers. The pricing should be such that farmers can purchase them without financial burden.”

Talking about subsidies, Shri Chouhan remarked, “Subsidies should be given only to those who are truly eligible.”

Concluding his address, he said that further discussion on mechanization will be held in depth, and that collaboration with industry stakeholders will help steer this in a new direction. “I am pleased that India is now manufacturing agricultural machines capable of competing globally. Every agricultural issue will be addressed after consulting with our farmer brothers and sisters, so that India can move forward and guide the world.”

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PSF/AR

Read this release in: Hindi

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