Agricultural sector too needs private investment: Tomar
Nagpur: “The agricultural sector is vast sector in India. In other sectors, private and other investments are being done in massive scale. However, no private investment is made in the agricultural sector. Ranking second in the world in farm output, the agricultural sector is the backbone of Indian economy. Now, there is need for private investment in agricultural sector. This will provide a boost to the sector as well as prosperity for farmers could be achieved,” stressed Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday.
Tomar was speaking after inaugurating Agrovision 2021, the biggest agriculture expo in Asia, at Kavi Suresh Bhat Auditorium in Reshimbagh. Other dignitaries present on the occasion include Union Minister and promoter of Agrovision, Nitin Gadkari, Karnataka Minister Ashvathya Narayan, Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, Rajya Sabha Member Dr Vikas Mahatme, MP Kripal Tumane, MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLAs Krishna Khopde, Vikas Kumbhare, former minister Anil Bonde, former MLA Pasha Patel, Dr Paturkar, Secretary Sanjay Agrawal, Arun Narayan, Agrovision Secretary Ravi Boratkar, Dr C D Mayee, President of Agro-Vision Consultant Committee, Ramesh Mankar, Organising Secretary. A souvenir was released at the hands of the dignitaries on the occasion.
The mega event is being held from December 24 to 27 in Nagpur.
The Union Agriculture Minister Tomar further said that earlier, there was lot of imbalance in agricultural sector. But under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government made efforts to remove the imbalance. Various schemes were launched and latest technology was brought in the sector to make farmers more happy. “Through Agrovision medium, the vital information and technology is reached to the farmers. The farmers are benefiting from appropriate guidance,” said Tomar.
“The process for depositing Rs 1.62 lakh crore into farmers’ accounts directly under PM Kisan Yojana is underway. The government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. Arrangements are in place to reach government schemes to the last farmer. Today, farmers have connected with information and technology information. Hence they are able to import many products,” Tomar stated.
The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in his speech, said that if new resources, information and technology are made available to the farmers, they will prosper and become powerful. The same work is being done through Agrovision. “The 13-year history of Agrovision Expo tells that whatever was decided, has been completed. Over 3 lakh farmers are being provided guidance through 40 workshops. What more is needed is educating farmers about better/smart farming by adopting modern technology, implementing correct cropping pattern, new avenues in agriculture, importance of allied agri. businesses like dairy, food and fruit processing, goat farming, fisheries, poultry etc. to minimise the dependability on agriculture to make farming financially affordable and profitable,” Gadkari said.
Gadkari stressed the need for increasing the country’s scale of ethanol production and underlined that farmers need to turn to ethanol production instead of growing conventional crops to increase profitability as well as enhance supply. “Farmers in the country today give us foodgrains. But they should also start giving energy. Farmers are producing CNG from sugar cane, waste etc. All vehicles are being run on ethanol. Soon, vehicles are being fitted with flex-fuel engines. This will sort out the diesel-petrol issue. Today, country needs 4000 crore litres of ethanol,” Gadkari said.
The annual Agrovision Expo is visited by lakhs of farmers from Vidarbha and adjoining states. The event showcase of best of innovations, technologies, new products and services. Free interactive workshops for farmers are organised. Over 400 organizations participate in the expo.
