Govt is trying to fix the problems in country’s farming sector: Agri Minister

Govt is trying to fix the problems in the country’s farming sector: Agri Minister

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Wednesday that the government is trying to fix the problems in the country’s farming sector.

The Agri minister was speaking at the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2022–23, at NASC, Pusa, New Delhi.

He made clear that, according to projections, foodgrain production would rise by 5 million tonnes in the 2020–21 crop year, nearing 315.7 million tonnes in the 2021–22 crop year (July–June).

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In an official statement, it was said that the rabi (winter-sown) season will provide 164.8 million tonnes of the 328 million tonnes of foodgrains that the country wants to produce in total for the crop year 2022–23.

The approaches would be to optimize the area through intercropping, crop diversification, intercropping, and increasing productivity through the introduction of high yield varieties (HYVs), adoption of suitable agronomic practices in low-yielding areas, use of residual moisture, early sowing, and lifesaving irrigation for rabi crops.

Tomar says that the federal government and state governments work together to do their jobs in agriculture. A lot of work has gone into making things in the country, which has led to more food grains, pulses, and oilseeds being made.

‘Right now, the most important thing is to deal with and solve the problems facing agriculture,’ he said.

Tomar brought up the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, which gave farmers ₹ 1.22 lakh crore as compensation for the crops they lost. Also Read | Govt may assist FPOs in accessing cheap loans at subsidized interest rates: Tomar.

He said that this program should be made available to all farmers because it would make small farmers feel safe. Tomar says that chemical fertilizers cause soil to produce less food, which is why organic and natural farming are being pushed.

He said that even though the federal government is making progress in the agriculture industry, state governments need to do more to help.