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PM promises more steps for welfare of farmers
New Delhi, Aug 02: Promising more steps for thewelfare of farmers, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee todayexpressed readiness to recommend one and a half time increasein support prices of pulses and oilseeds provided they boostproduction to make the country self-reliant.
New Delhi, Aug 02: Promising more steps for the
welfare of farmers, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed readiness to recommend one and a half time increase in support prices of pulses and oilseeds provided they boost production to make the country self-reliant.
Addressing a function organised by BJP`s Kisan Morcha to
felicitate him for lowering interest on crop loans and
purchase of farm equipments, Vajpayee said welfare of farmers had always remained on top of his government`s agenda and promised "more steps" in this regard.
Complimenting the farmers for helping the country export Rs 6,000 crore of foodgrains, he said this showed that the farmer could meet any challenge provided he took a resolve.
He said now the time has come for farmers to make experiments for boosting the production of pulses and oilseeds and government would be ready to extend a helping hand.
Stating that precious foreign exchange was being lost in the import of edible oils, he said the country should import only those things which could not be produced in the country. Advocating the need for a movement to promote rainwater harvesting, Vajpayee made a strong plea to farmers to change the pattern of cultivation to raise per hectare output, focus on value addition and turn to food processing to ensure maximum return to their production.
Several Union Ministers, including Agriculture Minister Raj Nath Singh and food minister Sharad Yadav, as also BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, who addressed the function, hailed the Prime Minister`s initiative in giving a fair deal to the farmer.
Expressing concern over the loss of foodgrains due to lack of proper storage, the Prime Minister said 25 per cent of farm produce rotted for lack of appropriate storage. He regretted that though plans were made for effective storage of farm produce, they were not implemented well.
Referring to diversification, he said that there has been much demand for flowers in Europe during winters and farmers should use this opportunity for export.
Complimenting the farmers for helping the country export Rs 6,000 crore of foodgrains, he said this showed that the farmer could meet any challenge provided he took a resolve.
He said now the time has come for farmers to make experiments for boosting the production of pulses and oilseeds and government would be ready to extend a helping hand.
Stating that precious foreign exchange was being lost in the import of edible oils, he said the country should import only those things which could not be produced in the country. Advocating the need for a movement to promote rainwater harvesting, Vajpayee made a strong plea to farmers to change the pattern of cultivation to raise per hectare output, focus on value addition and turn to food processing to ensure maximum return to their production.
Several Union Ministers, including Agriculture Minister Raj Nath Singh and food minister Sharad Yadav, as also BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, who addressed the function, hailed the Prime Minister`s initiative in giving a fair deal to the farmer.
Expressing concern over the loss of foodgrains due to lack of proper storage, the Prime Minister said 25 per cent of farm produce rotted for lack of appropriate storage. He regretted that though plans were made for effective storage of farm produce, they were not implemented well.
Referring to diversification, he said that there has been much demand for flowers in Europe during winters and farmers should use this opportunity for export.
He said that the "Gram Sadak Yojana" would help farmers to speedily reach their produce to markets at home and abroad. Naidu wanted the Centre to either set up a task force or convene a meeting of chief ministers for extending the scope of the crop insurance scheme which was now limited to a few crops. Bureau Report