Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged farmers to use scientific innovations such as artificial intelligence to improve yield, aggressively sell local natural and organic products and processed food, and promote Indian millets in the global arena.
Continuing his webcast on budget provisions, Modi urged farmers and others in the agriculture sector to take advantage of rising public awareness of environmentally friendly lifestyles and the ensuing market for natural and organic products. He urged the Kisan Vikas Kendras to raise awareness about natural farming by adopting a village for natural farming promotion.
Modi underlined that artificial intelligence would soon change the trend related to agriculture and farming. Increasing use of drones in farming is part of the change. “Drone technology will be available on a scale only when we promote agri-startups. In the last 3-4 years, more than 700 agri startups have been created in the country,” he said.
Next year has been declared International Year of Millets, Modi said and called upon the corporate world to brand and promote Indian millets. He asked major Indian missions to organise seminars and other promotional activities to popularise the quality and benefits of Indian millets.
The budget has seven initiatives to modernise the farm industry. Natural farming on a mission mode within 5 km on both banks of the Ganges, offering technology to farmers, Mission Oil Palm to reduce edible oil imports, and PM Gati-Shakti for agricultural product transportation were among the steps he outlined. Other measures in the budget include better agri-waste management and increased farmer income through waste to energy solutions, regular banking through over 1.5 lakh post offices, and changes in agriculture research and education syllabus to meet modern-day demands for skill development and human resource development, he said.
For management of agri-residue, “some new measures have been taken in this budget, due to which carbon emission will be reduced and farmers will also get income,” he said. He suggested that ways to use agri-waste for packaging should be found. He touched on the potential of ethanol blending in fuels. Blending was 8%, compared to 1-2% in 2014, he said. India’s cooperative sector is very vibrant, and farmers should aim at turning cooperatives into successful business enterprises, he said.